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The Map Collection is located in the Basement of the Library . It is a working collection consisting of atlases, topographic maps, aeronautical and nautical charts, geological maps, thematic maps, and travel maps of the World and the United States.

Federal Depository Program

As a federal selective depository library, Portland State maintains a complete collection of current maps produced by:

• the U. S. Geological Survey,
• the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) (formerly NIMA and the Defense Mapping Agency), and the
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Also housed in the map room are lesser collections produced by or for

• the Bureau of Land Management,
• the Forest Service, and
• the Central Intelligence Agency, among others.

• Most materials circulate with a few exceptions. Maps circulate for 7 days. Standard size atlases circulate for 7 days. OVERSIZE atlases are non-circulating as are any items marked "Reference". Reference materials include map catalogs, indexes, guides, and particular atlases.
• Additionally, maps marked "historic", and some other special maps, do not circulate.

The federal depository collection is supplemented by gifts and purchases. Geographical priorities for acquisition/collection development are:

1. Portland and adjacent counties
   All scales and subjects, including atlases, gazetteers, and ephemeral travel materials, pre-1900 maps and facsimiles.
2. Oregon
   All scales and subjects, including atlases, gazetteers, and ephemeral travel materials, pre-1900 maps and facsimiles.
3. Pacific Northwest, including Idaho
   All subjects and selected scales, including atlases, gazetteers, and ephemeral travel materials.
4. United States
   Thematic maps of the United States as a whole; sectional maps; atlases and gazetteers; regional and state-wide maps, with priority given to the western states and areas of special interest.
5. Canada and Mexico
   Thematic maps; atlases and gazetteers; regional maps of scale 1:250,000. Maps of province-wide scope. Larger scales as budget allows.
6. World, with emphasis on Pacific Rim countries
   Thematic maps, atlases and gazetteers of the world and of major ocean basins. Also continents and individual countries as a whole, including regions of special significance.

If you need assistance locating or using the maps and atlases in the Map Collection, please contact:

• The Reference Desk, located on the second floor. Phone number: (503) 725-2399 and Email
• Richard Mikulski, Government Documents & Social Science Librarian (richard.m.mikulski@pdx.edu)
• Bertrand Robinson/Map Technician (brobins@pdx.edu  Room 488)

For more information, try the Geology and Geography guides: 

• Geology
• Geography