Map Room

topographic | aeronautical and nautical | global | web sites

Located on the Lower Level

Contains about 78,000 sheet maps stored in flat cases

Most maps can be circulated for two weeks

Most are received through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and are produced by three federal agencies: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Ocean Service (NOS), and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

The collection includes political maps of foreign countries from the Central Intelligence Agency and a small collection of commercially published map sheets which the Library purchases

WVU has 53,700 map sheets in a series of 7.5 minute scale topographic maps for the entire United States

Maps that are not in the collection can be requested through Interlibrary Loan.

Should you have any questions regarding the Map Collection, please contact:

Christine Chang
Coordinator, Government Documents and Reference Librarian
(304) 293-4040 x 4037
cchang@wvu.edu

Maps received after 1976 through FDLP are retrievable by using the MarciveWeb Docs database (available: on campus only).

Most library users can find political, economic, physical and historical atlases by consulting MountainLynx.

A small collection of road maps for states and cities is kept uncataloged behind the Reference Desk in the Wise Library.

Topographic Maps

Topographic maps are arranged alphabetically by state and then subarranged alphabetically by quadrangle name within each state

Topographic maps may be checked out for 2 weeks

A set of topographic maps for the state of West Virginia is also kept in the Downtown Campus Library Reference Collection. Library staff will assist you in finding the map you want.

The largest series of maps in the collection is the 7.5 minute topographic map series for the entire United States produced by the US Geological Survey. There are approximately 54,000 map sheets in the collection. Topographic maps display selected characteristics of the terrain of an area including elevation, rivers and lakes, roads, trails, cemeteries, incorporated areas, churches and many other features found in the landscape. These maps are used for research, surveying, land use planning, and recreational purposes such as hiking and camping.

The topographic maps are arranged by state and then alphabetized by quadrangle names within each state. To locate a topographic map for a certain place, use the topographic map index provided for each state or search the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Quadrangles are usually named after the most prominent feature of the area.

Other topographic map series in the collection include 15-minute Maps, BLM Surface & Mineral Management Maps, County Maps, State Maps, 30-x 60- minute Maps, and National Park Maps.

A set of topographic maps for the state of West Virginia is also kept in the Downtown Campus Library Reference Collection. These West Virginia topographic maps can be checked out for two weeks. They can also be purchased for $4.00 each from the West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey (304 594-2331) at Mont Chateau Road.

Aeronautical and Nautical Charts

The collection has many nautical charts of the United States, its territories and possessions from the National Ocean Service. Some aeronautical and a few nautical charts of the world from NIMA are also included. They are dated serial maps arranged by numeric order.
Geologic & Hydrologic Maps

This group includes Oil and Gas Investigation Maps and Charts, Coal Investigations Maps, Geologic Quadrangle Maps, Geologic Investigation Series (formerly Miscellaneous Investigation Series), Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps, Hydrologic Investigation Atlases, and State Geologic Maps. These maps are produced by USGS and indexed in the Guide to USGS Publications (GovDocs Ref Z6026.G3G84 1998). They are arranged by series number.

Global Maps

Global maps may be checked out for 2 weeks

Global maps include topographic maps and CIA maps. The NIMA topographic maps of foreign countries are arranged by series number. They are often used by the US military services. The CIA maps of foreign countries and of the world are arranged by Superintendent of Documents Classification number (SuDoc number). They show political boundaries, general physical features, and important place names such as capital cities. CIA country maps are excellent for reports and presentations.

Selected Map Resources on the Web

State

MapWV
http://www.mapwv.gov

West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection
http://gis.wvdep.org

West Virginia State GIS Technical Center
http://wvgis.wvu.edu

National

National Atlas of the United States
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
http://164.214.2.59/portal/site/nga01/

National Mapping Information
http://geography.usgs.gov

National Ocean Service
http://www.nos.noaa.gov

View USGS Maps & Aerial Photo Images Online
http://geography.usgs.gov/partners/viewonline.html

International

Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research, Maps & References (University of Iowa)
http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/servers/servers_references.html

Outline World & Regional Maps
http://www.eduplace.com/ss/maps

Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html

World Atlas

Maps and Geography of the World
http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm