How to Find Maps & GIS

See the Subject Guide for Researching Maps

Find paper maps Duke Libraries own

      Search the online catalog:

• In the Basic search use the keywords "maps" or "atlas" with geographic terms (i.e. "France history atlas" or "guam maps"). This will find flat maps in the Map Collection, atlases anywhere in the library, and books that have maps in them (when noted in the catalog record). For atlases, also try a title keyword search in the basic search for the word atlas and the name of the country.
• Click the "More" tab and choose Maps as the location. Use the Basic, Advanced, or Expert search. This executes a keyword search limited to the Maps location so it will only find maps in the Map Collection, part of Public Documents and Maps.

Locate maps and atlases in the library:

• Map Collection
  • The Map Collection is located on the 3rd floor of Bostock Library.
  • Items will have the location Perkins Public Documents/Maps:Maps in the online catalog.
  • Maps printed before 1900 and historic atlases are held by Duke's Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library and may be searched in the Duke online catalog.
• Atlases
  • Reference Atlases are located in the Reference collection, Perkins first floor.  Large, general atlases are in the atlas cases, while small, specialized atlases are located in the call numbers that begin with G within the Reference Stacks.
  • Specialized, out-of-date, and other atlases are in Perkins stacks. Check the online catalog.

Find maps on the internet:

• See details for specific kinds of maps at the Maps Subject Guide.
• Some are freely available, some are for purchase only.

Locate GIS computers and mapping resources:  

• Computers with GIS capabilities are located in the Reference area on the first floor of Perkins Library.
• Computer Mapping Resources

Get help finding maps:

      Ask a Librarian or contact Mark Thomas, Map and GIS Librarian.