The Map Library houses a collection of general and thematic maps and
atlases for every area of the world. The collection consists of
approximately 212,000 sheet maps, 14,000 folded geologic maps, and 4,000 atlases, gazetteers and other reference aids including wall maps, globes, CDs and
Internet-accessible resources.
The collection is especially strong in Michigan, United States, Canada,
Africa, Asia, and Latin America, though all areas are collected at some
level.
Specialized collections include 19th-21st century Michigan county atlases and plat books; a small Braille map and atlas collection of U.S. states and continents; and Michigan Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
The sheet map collection includes maps from the 17th to 21st centuries. A major portion of the sheet map collection consists of
United States Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Defense products
received through government depository programs. Many foreign
topographic maps series are also collected, acquired by purchase and through Library of Congress map exchange programs. Other maps include foreign
and domestic city and road maps, and maps from magazine subscriptions such as Petroleum Economist and National Geographic. Most supplementary maps from books in the Main Library are also housed in the Map Library.
Sheet Map Collection:
This list contains some of our larger topographic map sets for regions
and countries of the world, with approximate measures of set
completeness. This list is by no means comprehensive or authoritative.
We own some sheets to many other sets, and inventories have not yet
been conducted for Central and South America. Contact the
Map Library for more accurate holdings information.
| Name of Series | Description of Holding |
| USGS 1:24,000 (7.5') topographic maps | Nearly complete coverage of all 50 states. Older editions retained. |
| USGS 1:62,500 & 1:63,360 (15') topographic maps | Significant percentage of published sheets. Older editions retained. |
| USGS 1:1,000,000 (30' x 60') topographic maps | Complete coverage, both planimetric and Bureau of Land Management editions. Older editions retained. |
| USGS 1:250,000 (1 deg x 2 deg) | Complete coverage. Older editions retained. |
Major international sets:
| Name of Series | Description of Holding |
| Operational Navigation Charts | Complete coverage of the entire world. One edition per chart is retained. |
| Jet Navigation Charts | Complete coverage of the entire world. One edition per chart is retained |
| Tactical Pilotage Charts | Complete coverage of the entire world. One edition per chart is retained |
| Nautical Charts | Complete coverage of the entire world. One edition per chart is retained. |
| Name of Series | Description of Holding |
| Canada 1:250,000 | Nearly complete coverage. Older editions retained. |
| Canada 1:50,000 | Approximately 50% coverage, largely southern Canada. Older editions retained. |
| Mexico 1:250,000 | Complete Coverage |
| Name of Series | Description of Holding |
| North Africa 1:500,000 | Complete set |
| North Africa 1:250,000 | Approximately 50% coverage |
| North Africa 1:200,000 | Partial coverage |
| East Africa 1:500,000 | Partial coverage |
| East Africa 1:50,000 | Partial coverage |
| Southern Africa 1:250,000 | 50 sheets |
| West Africa 1:250,000 | 100 sheets |
| West Africa 1:200,000 | 75 sheets |
| Morocco 1:200,000 | Good coverage |
| Algeria 1:500,000 | 300 sheets |
| Libya 1:100,000 | 76 sheets |
| Egypt 1:100,000 | 83 sheets |
| Cote d'Ivoire 1:50,000 | 23 sheets |
| Nigeria 1:100,000 | 109 sheets |
| Nigeria 1:50,000 | 156 sheets |
| Zimbabwe 1:250,000 | 50 sheets |
| South Africa 1:250,000 | Complete set |
| South Africa 1:50,000 | 451 sheets |
| Namibia 1:50,000 | 148 sheets |
| Swaziland 1:50,000 | 31 sheets |
| Madagascar 1:500,000 | 70 sheets |
Asia
| Name of Series | Description of Holding |
| Asia 1:1,000,000 | Partial coverage |
| East Central Asia 1:250,000 | Approximately 75% coverage |
| Southern Asia 1:2,000,000 | 28 sheets |
| Middle East 1:253,440 | 171 sheets |
| Turkey 1:200,000 | 70 sheets |
| Afganistan 1:200,000 | 95 sheets |
| Afganistan 1:253,440 | 52 sheets |
| India 1:250,000 | 270 sheets |
| India 1:126,720 | 100 sheets |
| Myanmar 1:250,000 | 40 sheets |
| Ceylon 1:63,360 | 72 sheets |
| Malaysia 1:63,360 | 20 sheets |
| Singapore 1:12,500 | 4 sheets |
| Thailand 1:50,000 | Possibly full set |
| Indonesia 1:1,000,000 | 27 sheets, approximately 50% coverage |
| Borneo 1:250,000 | Approximately 33% coverage |
| China 1:500,000 | Approximately 75% coverage |
| China 1:250,000 | Approximately 98% complete coverage |
| Manchuria 1:250,000 | 226 sheets |
| Taiwan 1:50,000 | 105 sheets |
| Korea 1:250,000 | 162 sheets |
| Korea 1:50,000 | 345 sheets |
| South Korea 1:25,000 | 148 sheets |
| South Korea 1:10,000 | 59 sheets |
| Japan 1:50,000 | 800 sheets |
| Japan 1:25,000 | 800 sheets |
| Caucuses 1:253,440 | 40 sheets |
| Siberia 1:250,000 | 238 sheets |
Latin America
| Name of Series | Description of Holding |
| Mexico 1:500,000 | 62 sheets |
| Mexico 1:250,000 (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática, 2nd ed.) | 119 sheets |
| Mexico 1:100,000 (Comisión Geográfica de Guerra y Fomento) | 197 sheets |
| Mexico 1:50,000 (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática) | 611 sheets |
| Guatemala 1:50,000 | 155 sheets |
| Guatemala 1:50,000 | 302 sheets |
| Belize 1:50,000 | 45 sheets |
| El Salvador 1:50,000 | 39 sheets |
| Costa Rica 1:50,000 | 120 sheets |
| Costa Rica 1:25,000 | 96 sheets |
| Panama 1:62,500 | 56 sheets |
| Panama 1:20,000 | 163 sheets |
| Haiti 1:100,000 (SGAH) | 23 sheets |
| Puerto Rico 1:30,000 | 111 sheets |
| Bolivia 1:250,000 (IGM) | 39 sheets |
| Brazil 1:50,000 (SGDE) | 45 sheets |
| Brazil 1:50,000 (Divetoria do Servico Geografico) | 75 sheets |
| Chile 1:500,000 (IGM) | 41 sheets |
| Chile 1:250,000 (IGM) | 100 sheets |
| Colombia 1:500,000 | 11 sheets |
| Colombia 1:100,000 (Instituto Geografico) | 81 sheets |
Access:
All books in the Map Library are fully cataloged and can be located through the Libraries' Online Catalog.Sheet maps are arranged by geographic area and subject. Since 1994 about 10% of the sheet map collection has been cataloged in the online catalog. Catalog searches may be limited to just the Map Library Collection.
USGS topographic maps of the 7.5' (1:24,000), 15' (1:62,500), and 30' x 60' (1:100,000) are arranged alphabetically by state and then by sheet name. The 1 x 2 (1:250,000) series is filed alphabetically across the United States.
Generally, all other maps and map series are arranged by geographic area, using the AGS (American Geographical Society) classification system. The sheet maps are grouped by regions of the world and further divided by subject so each country has its own classification number. Please ask for assistance when visiting the Map Library.
Lending
Except for the geologic maps described below, Map Library items do not circulate except by special permission. Special Permission will not be granted for anything determined to be rare or fragile. The main library has several options for scanning and copying items in black-and-white and color. Please consult with the Map Librarian to learn the options.
The Map Library houses folded geologic maps from the various USGS series and state geological surveys. All items are searchable in the online catalog. They may be identified by the location "MSU Map Library Compact Shelving". These maps circulate freely following the same circulation policies for regular circulating materials. Ask at the Map Library service desk, as the foled Geology maps are in locked stacks.
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