UCB Libraries

We estimate that more than half of the maps in our collection are cataloged in Chinook (CU Boulder's online catalog). All of the atlases, reference books, and CDs in the Map Library can be found through Chinook.

Library Catalog: Keyword-Beta and Keyword Classic Searches

• Start out with a keyword search for the city name, starting with the most specific geographic region and moving to larger geographic areas if necessary.
• If you are looking for a specific type of map (such as a city plan or map), include that information in your keyword search. For example: London City Plan
• No need to use “and” between words.
• Use * as a truncation symbol.
• Limit you search by collection: Maps/Atlases/GIS Data.
• Can sort results by relevance (the default), date, or title
• Also see our webpage on searching for Maps
• Always remember that when you search for a map in Chinook, you are not seeing our full collection; you are only seeing what has been cataloged so far. Come to the Map Library and we can help you search for what you need.

The Web

Using Google Advanced Search – You can get to it by starting any search, it will show up to the right of the search box, or by using the provided link.

Advanced search allows you to limit your search to webpages from that country’s top-level domain. This will begin to weed out foreign commercial sites and focus on government agencies that provide GIS data. Be sure to search at different levels of geographical organization. The search option is at the bottom of the advanced search.

Use keywords such as GIS, data, city, plan (in the language of the country you are searching) map (likewise), raster, the name of the city you are looking for (also, maybe not in English).

Print Resources

Useful Printed Map Collections in the Map Library

• Army Mapping Service – WWII-Era maps that include cities from France, Italy and Spain are uncataloged in marked drawers. Map library staff can assist you in finding them. The Perry Castaneda Library (Texas) has a digital collection of these maps that includes Algeria, China, Formosa, Japan, Korea , Morocco, Tripolita (Libya) and Tunisia.
  
  
• Historic Urban Plans – This is a publisher of historical reprints. CU has collected many of these maps, some of which are not in the catalog. You can search for them by doing a keyword search of “historic urban plans and (placename).” For other places, contact the map library staff!
  
  
• Baedeker's  - These are late 19th and early 20th C travel guides, predominantly for Europe and Egypt. They contain a number of detailed city maps. You can find them using a keyword search for “Baedeker's and (the county name)” You can check a print index, the Index to early twentieth century city plans appearing in guidebooks.
  
  
• Soviet City Plans – Digitized maps of a number of Mediterranean and other cities (Palermo, Damascus, Krakow, Istanbul, etc.) of interest to the Soviet Military from the 1970’s and 80’s. Ask a map library staff member about a complete list and access.
  
  
• Nautical Charts – Recent and historical nautical charts can be found using print indexes held at Map Reference desk. These charts often have detailed topography of coastal cities and ports. We also have international port cities and they are published typically by the US Defense Mapping Agency.
  
  
• Uncataloged City Plans – There are many city plans that are uncataloged and not mentioned above, ask a map library staff member to see if there are any other city plans available.

Select Books and Atlases: These are a few examples of excellent city maps in books in the map library. Sometimes books will have maps that are not mentioned in the catalog, so be sure to look for Books and Atlases about cities and broader geographical areas.

• Atlas of Rare City Maps
• Euro City Planner
• Cities of the World
• City Maps of Europe
• Civitates orbis terrarum

Digital Resources

• David Rumsey Map Collection – Largely North and South America, but many other places as well. Using the “Advanced Search” feature, you can limit the search to city name. Be sure to check variant spellings. Provided by a private and highly reputable map collector, David Rumsey.
  
  
• Historic Cities – Covers mostly Europe and Asia, but has excellent resources for Mexico and the United States. This is a good collection to look for maps of the Middle East as well. Run by the Historic Cities Center of the Department of Geography, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Jewish National and University Library.  
  
  
• Perry Castaneda Library Map Collection – The best way to navigate this collection is to just drill down by continent and country, then look for the city in which you are interested. They have a large collection of other City Map Sites and Historical Map Sites as well. These resources are provided by the University of Texas, Austin.
  
  
• The Library of Congress’ American Memory Map Collection – Has many useful maps, mostly of cities and towns in the United States. Hosted by the Library of Congress.
  
  
• CU Map Library’s Online Historical Map Links – Covers many places not mentioned here, including historical maps of world regions.

Print Maps

The Map Library holds many print maps for the City of Boulder, some of which are in the library catalog, but many of which are not. Map library staff can show you uncataloged drawers of Boulder and its environs from collections that might be kept locked.

Digital Resources

• Sanborn Insurance Maps of Colorado  - A searchable collection of highly detailed maps of Boulder and other Colorado cities, up to the 1920’s. Later dates through the 1930s are on available in paper. Contact a staff member in person to access these newer maps.
  
  
• City of Boulder Emap Viewer  - Centralized portal to GIS and map information for the city. Provides access to detailed topography, zoning, land use, flood, annexation, wetlands, ownership parcel and other information. Learn how to use the eMap Link by reviewing the eMaps Tutorial.
  
  
• Boulder County Maps – A collection of thematic maps for the city and county of Boulder.
  
  
• Boulder County GIS – A description of the GIS programs and resources by the City and County of Boulder, has links to GIS shapefiles.
  
  
• Open Space and Mountain Parks GIS Lab (Boulder) – Maps and GIS from the city’s Open Space and Parks division. Also has GIS shapefiles and other resources.
  
  
• Aerial Photos of Colorado (CU) – A collection of aerial photos held by the Map library from 1938, 1940 and 1946. We also have a number of more recent digital collections covering Boulder (1953-1994) in the library, contact a staff member in person to access these restricted collections.

Climate Maps and Data

• Colorado Wind Map and Resource Potential(U.S. Dept. of Energy) – Includes downloadable wind maps of the state, along with data sets.
  
  
• Renewable Energy Data Sources (NOAA) – Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association on solar and wind power in the U.S.
  
  
• Government Information Library (CU) Guide to Energy and Alternative Fuels Information