Government Maps

The S.E. Wimberly Library is a Selective Federal Depository Library and a designated State of Florida Depository Library. The Government Documents Department is responsible for maps received via those depository designations. As a federal and state documents depository, the Government Documents Department serves the 19th Congressional District and the broader geographical areas encompassing the surrounding communities. Maps received in the depository program are accessible to the general public as well as to faculty, staff and students.

Commercially purchased gazetteers, atlases, map indexes and similar reference works relating to maps are housed in the Library's reference and general collections. Maps contained in pockets of monographs or serials are kept with their respective publications. An exception are maps that accompany National Geographic Magazine. These maps are routed by the Serials Department to the Government Documents Department where they are filed under general subject headings in a file cabinet near the map cases. USGS topographic/quadrangle maps, NIMA (formerly DMA) maps, and surface minerals management maps are filed alphabetically by state, then alphabetically by map name in the map cases. International maps (NIMA(DMA)/JOG) are filed alphabetically by country/region, then alphabetically by map name. Indexes identifying the Library's holdings of these maps are located on top of the map cases. An administrative copy is located in the Government Documents work room.

Per depository instructions, federal maps that arrive folded are processed and then filed by their Sudoc number on the shelves. Oversized maps or non-USGS maps are processed and then filed by Sudoc number in map cases designated with the appropriate Sudoc number. Dummies (i.e. blocks) are placed on the shelves identifying their location. These maps have bibliographic records loaded into the library catalog. USGS maps arriving in manila folders also have their bibliographic records loaded into the library catalog. USGS topographic/guadrangle maps do not have records in the library catalog. Blocks on the shelves under the Sudoc number identifies their location in the map drawers. Each map is further identified by indexes located on top of the map cases.

The Library does not collect wall, nautical or aeronautical charts/maps.   Archival or rare maps are also not generally acquired. Globes are purchased selectively.

A map light table is provided for map users. Tracing paper and cartographic supplies are not provided.

Additional copies of maps specifically on Florida are selectively purchased. These include the printed 1990/2000 Census of Population and Housing maps and TIGER/LINE CD-ROMS for Florida.

All map materials housed in the Government Documents Collection circulate with the following exceptions:

-Reference works of any format/type
-Map indexes
-USGS topographic/quadrangle maps
-NIMA (DMA) maps
-Surface minerals management maps
-Maps bearing documents call numbers prefaced by DOC PER
-Maps stamped "For Reference Use Only"

Digitized or computer maps are of growing importance in depository libraries. The Government Documents Department receives selective digitized maps on CD-ROM and will purchase duplicates of digitized Florida maps. The Library owns GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software and will make it available to patrons on the public terminal in the Government Documents Office. Digitized cartographic CD-ROMs may circulate to those patrons with the technology and knowledge to use them. Referrals to campus departments will be made when necessary.

The Government Documents Department selectively acquires maps on microforms. Preservation, availability, and usage are considerations in the selection of this medium. The Library provides microform reader/printers. Examples of maps acquired in microform are:

-Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (Florida only)
-Bureau of the Census tract and block maps (ASI Collection)
-National Wetlands Inventory Maps (I 49.6/7-2:) (Florida and U.S)

The Library does not own a large scale map copier but will refer patrons to commercial services available locally. The Government Documents Department also receives the USGS individual state's Catalog of Topographic and Other Published Maps (I 19.41/6-2:) for those who wish to purchase available Maps from either the USGS or a local commercial firm.

The Government Documents Department consults with the Special Collections Department for repair and preservation techniques for the maps collection.

Interlibrary loan of maps is decided on a case by case basis by the Head, Government Documents Department after consultation with the Head, Reference Department and the Head, Interlibrary Loan Department.