The University of Melbourne Library

General Information

The Map Library’s collection of over 110,000 maps is one of the largest such collections in Australia, with strengths in the areas of topographic, geological, demographic, digital cartography and aerial photography. The scope of the collection is world-wide with an emphasis on Melbourne and Victoria. A wide variety of historical and current mapping of Australia is held. Other important areas covered include East Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East, the British Isles, Central America and the Pacific region.

Users

The Map Library is not attached to any one faculty, its users are from any faculty that needs to use the collection for study, teaching and research. The faculties or departments listed below are the main users of this collection.

Archaeology
Earth Sciences
Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning
Geography
Geomatics
History
Institute of Land and Food Resources

Changes in Direction

There is a growing trend towards digital mapping with revisions to maps series produced in digital format. Computers have been used in production of nearly all maps for two decades now. Increasingly maps and digital spatial data are only available in a digital format. This is especially the case for detailed maps and spatial data which is used in research projects. For example, hard copy production of the very detailed MMBW base maps of Melbourne and Victoria ceased in 1989 and these maps are now dated. While the newly produced digital maps provide up to date information, important features such as contours may be omitted. The print versions need to be kept as an important historical resource.

Location

The Map Library is located on the fourth floor of the Education Resources Centre.

Classification

The map collection is classified by the Boggs and Lewis classification scheme, which is an area based scheme. The Reference collection of books and atlases is classified by Dewey.

Formats

The contents of the Map Collection can be broadly defined as 'Spatial Data'. Spatial Data is data which, as a special characteristic, refers to objects or phenomena with a specific geographic location. Because of this special characteristic the locations of these objects or phenomena can be visualized and these visualizations -- called maps -- are the key to their further study. The primary material format of the collection is maps. For the purposes of this policy, maps are defined as representations of the whole or part of the earth’s surface or any celestial body or of the sky at any scale. These materials include: two and three dimensional maps and plans; navigational charts; atlases; globes; block diagrams; sections; aerial photographs; satellite imagery; bird’s-eye views; and spatial databases, where these databases provide geographic data in either graphic or tabular form. The collection includes maps in four principal physical forms: sheet maps; books; microforms and computer files. Other physical forms may also be collected as required.

Collection Methods

Collecting focuses upon current and most recently available publications. Drawing on advice from academic staff this material is mainly selected and acquired by purchase. Material of a historical nature is usually acquired by donation, but may be purchased when specifically required for teaching and research.

Language

There is no restriction on the purchase of foreign language although the collection is predominantly English language. Some foreign language maps are bought to support the teaching needs of academic staff. As maps are a graphic representation with widespread use of international conventions and standards, foreign language materials do not normally present a great barrier to use even by people who can speak one language.

Areas of Collection Strength

Melbourne (20% of maps in the collection), especially
- historical mapping of Melbourne,
- current and historical MMBW mapping,
- aerial photography.
Victoria, excluding Melbourne (14% of maps in the collection), especially
- current and historical topographic mapping,
- publications of bodies such as LCC, CSIRO and Victorian Dept. of Agriculture,
- aerial photography,
- digital map data.
Australia, excluding Victoria (11% of maps in the collection), especially
- historical 1 inch to 1 mile mapping,
- topographic mapping,
- geological mapping.
Asia (11% of maps in the collection), especially
- topographic mapping,
- maps of India.
Europe (9% of maps in the collection), especially
- topographic mapping,
- British Isles maps.

Subject based strengths (additional to area based strengths listed above)

Topographic mapping from around the world.
Geological mapping from around the world.
Historical maps from WW2 for both Europe and Pacific.
Australian census data.
City plans collection.
Victorian digital GIS data.

Areas requiring enrichment

Detailed coverage (especially topographic) of Australian capitals apart from Melbourne
Soils mapping of the Melbourne region, and other environmental mapping.
Topographic mapping of selected areas of the world, particularly the Middle East, China and some parts of south-east Asia.
Detailed digital urban mapping for Australian states other than Victoria.

Additional information, see: Maps Collection Management Policy

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Maps - Collection Policy