VPL Map Collection

Note: this web page and its subsequent pages are currently being revised.

Overview of the Map Collection

Most of the maps in Vancouver Public Library's map collection are located in Fine Arts and History on Level 6 of the Central Library.

The map collection includes maps and atlases of every description: from street maps of present-day Vancouver to historical atlases of ancient Rome, from bathymetric maps of the ocean floor to geological maps of Jupiter's moons. Most of the material is held in the Map Area which is situated between the elevators and the Genealogy section. Historical or rare maps, especially of the Pacific Northwest, may be found in the Special Collections Department (Level 7). A great many atlases are found on Level 6, but other subject divisions such as Science and Business on Level 4 also have atlas collections. Atlases may be identified and located by using the library catalogue.

The following web pages describes the extent of the map collection and how to identify the maps you need and determine where these maps are physically located. Throughout these pages, the term Access describes how to identify maps of interest, while the term Location describes where the maps are physically located in the Central Library.

Road Maps of Cities, Regions, and Countries
Trail and Park Maps
Topographic Maps
Hydrographic Charts, Bathymetric Maps & Aeronautical Charts
Thematic Maps (Maps on Specific Subjects)
Aerial Photographs and Satellite Imagery
Atlases and Gazetteers
Geographical Information on CD-ROM
Geographical Information and Map Websites
Other Map Collections in the Lower Mainland