Government Documents, Maps and Microforms Department

The Maps Section supports the basic research and instructional needs of UIC by making accessible a cartographic materials collection of over 179,000 maps, 1,300 atlases, 4,000 aerial photographs, a small collection of map-related reference books, plus microforms as well as digital data. Besides meeting the scholarly and curricular needs of faculty, students and staff, many cartographic materials may be used for personal and recreational interests.

The largest collection of its type available at a Chicago area public university, the Maps Section also serves local college and university members, the local business community, and the public.

The University Library's primary collection of cartographic materials is located in the Maps Section. In addition, the Special Collections Department houses selected cartographic materials in both sheet map and atlas format. Nearly all of these are printed rather than manuscript items and were published prior to 1900.