Map Room

The purpose of the general collection development policy of the Map Room is to provide a well-rounded collection of world-wide coverage comprised of general and thematic, small and large scale maps; national, provincial or state, regional, and thematic atlases; and related reference materials. In addition, as in the case of any modern university, it is essential for there to be special areas of emphasis because of the particular instructional and research needs of the University Community. The emphasis of this collection is on maps of Newfoundland, Canada, and the oceans around Newfoundland. The intensive collection of maps of Newfoundland should be carried out in cooperation with the Centre for Newfoundland Studies which currently houses the pre-1900 maps, as well as rare atlases.

Because of the long-standing and still growing interest within the University in marine biology, oceanography, ocean engineering and other ocean related specialities, hydrographic, bathymetric, climatic, geologic, biogeographic and other marine related maps and charts are an important thematic area of concentration. In addition to the geographic areas of emphasis mentioned previously, attention must be paid to collecting cartographic materials relating to the rest of North America, especially New England, and Western Europe, especially Great Britain and the coastal areas of the Continent because of the interests of departments such as Geography, History, Geology, Engineering, and Biology.

The collection includes cartographic materials in a variety of different languages, with the emphasis on English and French, as the official languages of Canada. Because of the graphic method of presentation used on cartographic materials and the usually limited amount of written text that is involved, language of presentation is generally not a serious hindrance.

Cartographic materials produced by governments are housed in the Map Room. Such materials already in the Government Documents Room will not be systematically removed.

Since the Geography Department maintains a collection of daily weather maps, the Map Room does not collect them. No attempt is made to collect rolled maps which are primarily for classroom use as the Geography Department has such a collection. Expendable materials, such as topographic maps used for field work or stocks of outline maps to be colored or drawn upon by students for classroom exercises, are not collected as they are felt to be in the domain of the bookstores, the Air Photo and Map Sales office of the Lands Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, and individual departments. Purchasing or ordering information about such materials will be kept on hand.

Journals relating to cartography, as is the case for most other journals in this library are housed in the Periodicals Division. The Main collections house the majority of general works on cartography, map reading, map projections, works on mathematical geography, history of cartography, etc.

A listing is given below of specific types of cartographic materials to be collected based upon the above. In addition, in order to provide orderly access to these and other such materials, as well as to assist readers in the use of such materials, the varieties of reference and support material felt to be needed are also listed.

Maps

Topographic maps -- Medium scale (e.g. 1:250 000) world-wide coverage and large scale (e.g. 1:50 000, 1:25 000) coverage for areas of specific interest, such as Newfoundland and other parts of Canada, New England, and the countries of the northern North Atlantic area (Greenland, Iceland, Mainland Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Eire, and France). Large scale maps for other areas as the need develops or as the range of the research and teaching needs of the University community decrees. The foundation of the topographic map collection will be the depository collection of Canadian National Topographic System (NTS) maps at present comprising around 15,000 sheets.
General maps -- Small scale (e.g. 1:1 000 000), 1:10 000 000) maps of the world, continents, hemispheres, countries, regions, etc., to keep up-to-date on internal and external boundary changes, place name changes, and changes in general cultural features.
Thematic maps -- Small scale maps of the world, continents, hemispheres, oceans, countries, regions, etc., which depict topics such as physical features, transportation, communication, soils, vegetation, population distribution and/or density, geology, economic conditions, historical events, land use, etc., when available. Large scale thematic mapping when available for Newfoundland, the Maritime Provinces, Arctic regions, New England, countries of the northern North Atlantic area and adjacent water bodies. Raised relief maps of a few selected areas, i.e. Canada and the United States, as examples of that cartographical style.
Nautical charts -- Canadian hydrographic and bathymetric charts of the Canadian east coastal areas including the Grand Banks and the Labrador Sea. U.S. National Ocean Survey and U.S. Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic Center charts for the New England and North Atlantic areas. General bathymetric maps of hydrographic charts in the medium to small scales for other bodies of water.
Aeronautical charts -- Small scale coverage of the entire world and medium scale coverage for Canada. Any such materials which are available for Newfoundland.
Historical Maps -- Early maps of all areas will be accepted as gifts. Early maps (pre 1900) of Newfoundland reside in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies. Facsimiles of maps of significant historical, cartographical or local interest whenever possible.
City Maps -- Maps of major foreign cities and most Canadian cities, with special effort made to maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date collection of maps of Newfoundland, eastern Canada, New England, and United Kingdom cities, including thematic maps whenever possible. The collection of municipal plans of Newfoundland communities and facsimiles published by Historic Urban Plans should be maintained and added to by the Map Room.
Aerial Photographs -- Aerial photography index-mosaics for Newfoundland, large scale aerial photographs of St. John's and the Avalon Peninsula. Expansion of coverage of the rest of the province, mainland, and foreign areas would be determined by research and teaching needs of faculty and graduate students.
Global and Planetary Photography -- As the interest of readers indicates a need, as cartographic examples, and as available free or on deposit. The examples collected should represent the types of products available, especially those that cover Newfoundland.
Extra Terrestrial Maps -- General astronomical and planetary maps and charts.

Atlases

General World Atlases -- Up-to-date general world atlases, as available.
Thematic Atlases -- Based upon departmental collection policies and the previously mentioned geographical areas of interest. Known subjects of interest at this point include climate, history, roads, archaeology, linguistics, bathymetry, economics, geology, ethnography, and natural resources.
National Atlases -- All official national atlases, whenever available, since these may often provide the most comprehensive information for a country.
Provincial and State Atlases -- Canadian provincial and U.S. state atlases as available. Atlases of regions of Canada. Atlases of U.S. regions on a selective basis.
City Atlases -- Atlases of Canadian cities, selected major U.S. and foreign cities, i.e. New York City, London, Paris, especially thematic atlases whenever available.
Historical Atlases -- Facsimiles of early atlases on a selective basis.
Astronomical Atlases -- A few representative astronomical atlases.

Globes

A representative selection of globes.

Reference and Support

Gazetteers -- Modern general, national, provincial, gazetteers, and a few historical gazetteers. The Reference collection has some of these materials as well.
Glossaries and Dictionaries -- Basic cartographical glossaries and dictionaries, foreign language map terminology glossaries. A representative selection of foreign language dictionaries.
Cartography -- A selection of items to assist map readers; some books on map reading, map symbols, map projections, and the evaluation of maps and atlases.
Map Libraries -- Directories, descriptions, histories, acquisitions lists, printed catalogs, etc., of various map libraries, whenever available.
Cartobibliographies -- All available whether on a subject, region, country, province, state, or city. Bibliographies of mapping by government agencies. Acquisition of printed catalogs of map libraries noted above.
Directories -- Listings of addresses of cartographers, map publishers, map printers, etc.
Map Information File -- In order to have acquisition information readily accessible to us and our readers, we collect catalogs, indexes, and price lists from numerous domestic and foreign, commercial, as well as official, mapping agencies and map dealers.
Outline Maps -- Ones suitable for tracing and photocopying


	Map Room, Queen Elizabeth II Library Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland Canada A1B 3Y1 telephone: (709) 864-8892 fax: (709) 864-2153

September 9, 2008
Dan Duda