Locating Maps in UO Libraries

Maps received by the Libraries in the last twenty plus years have been individually cataloged and can be identified using the University of Oregon Library Catalog (LibrarySearch).  Unfortunately, many of the older maps in our collection are not in the catalog.  These may be searched by Browsing the Map Collection.

The Catalog can be used for locating physical maps in the collection as well as identifying call numbers for geographic areas while browsing the physical collection.

Here are some tips for successfully using the catalog to find physical maps:

1. Search by subject: Use the drop down box on the left side of the search bar to change your search from keyword to subject

• All maps and most atlases have the word maps (note it is plural) as a subject word.
• Use the place name of the area you are interested in as a subject word. The place name (for example: Eugene) will be one of the subject terms.
• If you are not finding maps of a specific area, try going up one geographic level.  For example, instead of searching for the city Eugene, search for the county Lane.  This will bring in maps that cover a broader area but might have the information that you want for the local area. County maps may have inset maps showing cities or towns, or the county map could have enough detail for your research needs.

2. Narrow your search results

• Before you search, change your search options from UO + Summit + Articles to UO Libraries. This will return only items that are available to you in the UO Libraries
• You may limit it to UO + Summit if you want to see maps in libraries at other Universities that we have borrowing agreements with.  However, many maps are not available for borrowing from other libraries, so you may not be able to get these maps without visiting the other library in person.
• Use the Refine My Results options on the left-hand side of the results page.  Useful limits to check are Availability: Available Print at UO and Resource Type: Maps.  You can also limit results by Date range if you are looking for maps published in a specific time range.

3. Sort your search result

Change the Sort by option from Relevance to Date-newest or Date-oldest. This can be especially useful with maps if you are looking for maps representing conditions present during a specific time period

4. Use Advanced Search

• Advanced Search allows you to search based on subject (place) and narrow by keyword if you want maps that address a specific topic, such as winery. This would give you maps of the area you specified that mention winery in the map description.
• Advanced Search in LibrarySearch allows you to limit by Material Type: Maps, Search Scope: UO Libraries, and Date in your first search. You can still limit your results later.

5. Click on geographic Subjects of a map record to search for all maps on that geographic area

• If your original basic search was on subject [geographic name] and maps, you will find maps of multiple places with the same name.  For example Portland maps results in maps of both Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine. Find a map of Portland, Oregon and click on the title. Scroll down to see what the subjects are. You will see that the catalogers have assigned the subject Portland (Or.) -- Maps and you can click on it to find all maps of Portland, Oregon in the catalog. This is an easy way to distinguish between two geographic areas that have the same name without having to remember the exact wording the catalogers' use.

You've located a map the catalog says is in the UO Libraries. What do you do now? 

As with any other physical item in the libraries that you want to get, you carefully note which Location the map is stored at. There are several different Locations in the Map Library in Knight Library. Additionally there is a small geology map collection in the Allen Price Science Commons and Library.

Atlases may be in the Map Atlas section or located in the stacks of any of the libraries, so it is especially important to check for atlas locations.

Note that items located in Rare Maps, Rare Mini Maps, Rare Map Series, and Map Media require Library staff to get them for you.  Use the Request Mediated Access Items in Map Collection form.

The UO Map Library organizes maps by Library of Congress Call Number System, which groups maps by geographic region.  This makes it easy to browse the uncatalogued maps if you know what the call number is for the area you are interested in.  Once you have identified a map you are interested in, use the call number listed to look for other maps with the same call number stem in the General Map Cases, Mini Maps, and Folded Maps.