The Map and Geospatial Data Collection focuses on the local area and on Canadian material, and currently comprises over 101,000 maps, 1,900 books and atlases, 45,000 air photos, and 1,000s of licensed digital map and image files.

GIS Data

The  GIS collection consists of a wide variety of geospatial data, as well as licensed software for manipulating such data. Amongst the topics represented in this data are buildings, transportation, elevations, soils, forestry, boundaries, health, demographics, and much more.

Search the Scholars GeoPortal  and the Library's Geospatial Database for information about this part of our collection.

Air Photos

The air photo collection emphasizes Kingston and the surrounding southeastern Ontario area but imagery covering other areas of Ontario, Canada and the world is also available.

Paper

We are constantly updating the Air Photo database. It will eventually include records for all photographs in our collections but at the moment it is complemented by paper flight line index maps annotated with our photograph holdings.

Digital (orthophotography, satellite data, etc.)

The fastest growing part of the collection. Search the Geospatial Data Database and the Scholars GeoPortal  to get an idea of the extent of coverage in this format. The Library is also the Queen's University liaison with Land Infomation Ontario

Maps and Historical Cartography

Supplementing a core collection of current and historical Canadian topographic maps are detailed and medium scale topographic maps of many areas in the world, historic and modern city plans, nautical charts of Canadian waterways, soil surveys, past and current census and administrative boundary maps, facsimiles of early maps, and much more. We have an exceptional collection of early mapping of Kingston and the surrounding area, in reproduction or facsimile.

Atlases and Books

Books and journals on cartography and related subjects, international, national and regional atlases, thematic atlases, historical atlases in facsimile, cartographic bibliographies and catalogues, and gazetteers are well represented in the Collection. Of special note is the portion of the Collection dedicated to Dr. Richard Ruggles who, in support of teaching and research, began gathering materials pertinent to the study of the history of cartography.

Collection Development

Collection Development Policy for Maps, Geospatial Data and Air Photos.

Other map collections on campus

• Engineering & Science Library, Douglas Library
  Collects earth science maps
  Search the Geological map inventory database
  613-533-6981; engsci@queensu.ca
• Special Collections, Douglas Library
  Collects rare and original early maps
  613-533-6916; jordan.library@queensu.ca

For further information about our collections and services, please contact Map & Geospatial Information Collection staff.