Finding paper maps and atlases

This tutorial demonstrates how to find paper maps and atlases in the University of Toronto Libraries catalogue.

 

Paper maps are no longer located on the fifth floor; please contact MDL for assistance retrieving paper maps.

 

The vast majority of map titles in the Map & Data Library collection are indexed in the University of Toronto Library online catalogue. The default is to search the University of Toronto Libraries homepage. Click on the "Advanced search" icon. The Advanced Search option allows you to limit your search to the collections of the Map & Data Library and/or to cartographic materials only. Alternatively, you can also access this through the Map and Data Library homepage. Click on the magnifying glass icon. From here, please click on "Advanced Search"  

"The University of Toronto Libraries homepage search bar, with advanced search highlighted in a red box"

Alternatively, if you are on the Map & Data Library homepage, you can first click on the search icon:

"The Map and Data Library homepage, with the search icon highlighted in a red box"

Then, on the general search, please click on Advanced Search.

"General search bar, with advanced search highlighted in a red box"

In Advanced Search, use the Search Scope dropdown menu to select Map & Data Library.

"Advanced search criteria, with search term, search scope and Map and Data Library highlighted in a red box"

Search for the map or atlas you are looking for by entering a search term. For example, "Downtown Los Angeles".

On the left-hand side of the results, there are filter options. For maps, select Maps under the Format filter. Then click Apply Filter. 

"Filter options, with Maps highlighted in a red box under Format. Apply Filters is also highlighted in a red box"

Unfortunately, there is no filter for atlases. Some are listed as maps and others as books. It is best not to apply a format filter when looking for an atlas. 

Here is an example of an item record for a paper map at MDL. The call number is highlighted in the red box below (G4364.L8 1984).

"Item record with the call number highlighted in a red box"

Scrolling down will give you additional details about what is represented on the map.

"Additional Item details"

If you are signed into LibrarySearch, you can request items through it. If not, please send us a map retrieval request with the Call Number or Permalink of the map.

Tips for searching the catalogue

When searching for maps, try using keywords associated with your geographic area of interest, and the type of map you wish to locate. For example, to find a map of bus, subway and streetcar routes in Toronto, try typing Toronto transit into the search box.

Note that not every geographic area covered by a map will necessarily be described in the catalogue record, and hence these maps may not come up in a search. If you find no results for a particular query, try “zooming out” to a broader level of geography in which your area of interest is contained. For example, if you were looking for a map that showed the Rexdale neighbourhood in west Toronto, a search of all items in the Map & Data Library using the search query Rexdale will return no results, but this does not necessarily mean that we do not have any maps that show the neighbourhood. Rexdale likely appears on many maps of the former municipality of Etobicoke, later amalgamated into the city of Toronto – searching the catalogue for Etobicoke or Toronto will provide you with other maps in which you may find Rexdale.

Finding-paper-maps-atlases.pdf
Technique: Searching for maps and data | Data Format: Paper maps
Date Created: Updated: