The Map Collection

Location and Hours

The Map Collection is located on the 3rd floor of the Noble Science and Engineering Library on Tyler Mall on the ASU Tempe Campus. Check the campus map for library locations and visitor parking.

Regular hours:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Hours may vary during holidays and intersessions. Call (480) 965-3582 for more information, or check the on-line schedule.

The Collection

The ASU Libraries' Map Collection contains more than 200,000 maps, 20,000 aerial photographs, 2,800 atlases and reference materials related to maps and cartography. The Map Collection includes cartographic materials on a wide range of geographic areas and subjects. The Collection's emphasis is on contemporary and historical maps related to the Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona, the Southwest and Mexico. The Collection's aerial photography includes current and historical aerial photography primarily of Maricopa County and other Arizona regions.

The Map Collection receives a large portion of its maps through the U.S. Federal Depository Library Program. Examples of cartographic materials received through the depository program include U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps and geologic maps, U.S. Forest Service maps, nautical and aeronautical charts, Central Intelligence Agency maps, and federal spatial datasets.

Collection Access

As part of the U.S. Federal Depository Library Program, the ASU Map Collection is open to the ASU community as well as the general public.

Maps in the Collection can be searched using the Map Index, one of the ASU Libraries' specialized databases, or by using the Online Catalog. The Map Index contains records on more than 90% of the maps available in the Collection. Each record in the Map Index includes information on the title, author, date, scale, subject and the geographic area covered by each map or map set. Holdings for map sets and series in the Map Collection are available on paper indexes in the Collection. Historical maps, formerly held in the Department of Archives and Manuscripts and the Arizona Historical Foundation, are available in the Map Collection and can be searched in the Map Index or Online Catalog.

The Online Catalog contains records of recently acquired maps of all ages and most maps published since 2006. Reference books and atlases can also be searched using the Online Catalog.

Circulation and Reproduction

Most maps in the collection circulate for standard loan periods. See the ASU Libraries Loan Policy for more information.

Maps should be checked out at the Map Collection circulation desk. Some of the CD-ROMs also circulate. Aerial photographs, atlases and other non-circulating materials must be used in the Map Collection.

A 11"x17" scanner is available for use in the Map Collection to scan non-copyrighted materials. Portable drives or CDs are recommended for storage. Collection staff will provide general scanning instruction, but will not scan materials for users.

Copy machines, including an oversized machine capable of copying items 36" wide, are available in Noble Library.