Detailed guide to finding maps

The University Library has a collection of about 70,000 maps and atlases.

All atlases are included in the Unicorn catalogue, as are maps acquired after 1993. In addition, there are records on the catalogue for all older maps of a number of countries - Check here to see which countries are available (PDF).

Earlier acquisitions will be listed in the Map card catalogue, which is available on the 2nd Floor of the Library, near the map cabinets.

Worksheets are also available to help you learn how to search Unicorn:

Types of maps

These definitions may help you decide which type of map you need.

  • Topographic map – A map which shows ‘what is there’ – natural features eg rivers, lakes, woods, and cultural features eg. roads, railways, buildings. It may also indicate height.
  • Thematic map – A map which shows the geographical distribution of a particular theme eg geology, soil type, population density, vegetation, land use.

Searching Unicorn for maps

To perform a basic search for maps on Unicorn just add the phrase ‘cartographic material’ to your search.

Alternatively, use the advanced search and set the material to MAP.

So for a general geology map of France, search for:
geology france cartographic material
This will retrieve 31 items, ranging in date from 1898 to 2005.

If you do this search using ‘geolog$’ instead of geology it will retrieve 35 items, as the wildcard allows a match with related terms such as ‘geological’, and ‘geologique’.

Search tips:

  • Start with the most specific geographic area and generalise if there are few results. For example, for a map of a rural area of Kenya, a town name may produce no results, but a search on ‘kenya topograph$ cartographic material’ produces five records. Four of these have links to an online index map which indicates if the desired area is covered.
  • Do not use 'maps' instead of 'cartographic material' as this will retrieve books and atlases with maps rather than actual maps

Maps Card Catalogue

The entries are arranged by geographical area (continents, countries, oceans), each of which is sub-divided by districts, regions, counties, etc.

Subject entries follow, including Geology, Soils and Town plans (which are arranged alphabetically). Within each section the arrangement is by scale, progressing from small (general) scale to large (specific). Each catalogue card will have a note of the map location in the top right hand corner.

Series mapping and graphic indexes

Some entries will refer to a ‘map series’. This is a set of maps, all made to the same specifications, which cover an entire area in a systematic manner. An example is the Ordnance Survey Landranger series of Great Britain. Most countries have several national map series at a variety of scales. They may be topographic or thematic.

It is often easiest to show which sheets cover which area, and indeed which sheets we actually have, by using a graphic index. These may be online or in index books held on the 2nd Floor, near the map cabinets. The online indexes can be accessed from the catalogue record – follow the link ‘Click here to see which sheets we have’.

Obtaining maps

To request a map, you will need to note:

  • Brief title
  • Scale (if given)
  • Sheet number or name if it is part of a map series.
  • Call number or map location. Please note that as the map records are still a work in progress, many records on Unicorn will state ‘NOT YET CLASSIFIED’ under call number. In these cases, you need to note the Map Library location, found on the full record.

Take these to the Map Librarian (or in her absence to the 2nd Floor Information Desk), and she will advise you when you can collect the map. Please note, some material is housed off site, so may take 24 hours to retrieve.

Maps cannot be retrieved at weekends or after 17:00. If this is the only time you can visit, please email or phone the Map Librarian in advance to arrange retrieval and access.

Back to Finding maps.

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