Responsibility: Manager, Science Library
Policy last reviewed: 2001
Contents
- General Information
- Interdisciplinary Relationships
- Scope of Collecting
- Special Considerations
- Conspectus (Table)
General information
Why the Library collects in this area
The Library collects maps and other cartographic material in order to support the teaching and research needs of staff of The University of Western Australia.
The major part of the map collection was initially developed around the needs of the Departments of Geography and Geology. In the last decade the Departmental collection and a smaller collection from the University Library were amalgamated.
Primary user groups served; relevant academic courses and research information
The Library has acquired maps to support teaching and academic research programmes in the University, in particular those in the Department of Geography and the Department of Geology.
Areas of research involving the use of maps include: ancient and classical history; modern history; areas of geography such as political geography, demography, geomorphology and biogeography; geology; law; economics; political science; land planning and agriculture.
Description of existing collection
The collection is dispersed over a wide range of subject areas. It provides users with information on land use, land tenure and historical / geographical data in a cartographic format. The collection is particularly strong in regional and planetary material, and in holdings of foreign maps.
The bulk of the collection consists of single map sheets numbering in excess of 40,000 items and is composed of topographical maps (series), thematic maps (series) and miscellaneous maps.
A wall map collection of c.50 flat or rolled maps form an integral part of the teaching collection. Given the geo- political changes of the past decades the 'political' nature of the maps may be considered as 'dated'.
Complimenting the map sheets are the aerial photograph and photomosaic collection. These holdings are unique in Australia and number approximately 160,000 items. A small amount of Landsat imagery is included in this figure.
The atlas collection, although outdated, is an integral part of the Map Library. The historical, thematic and cartographical nature and content of the atlases warrants their retention in the collection.
Holdings of c.140 gazetteers complement the map collection.
Weather maps of Western Australia, Monthly Weather Reviews of some states of Australia and an important collection of "climatic data by individual country" make up a research / teaching collection used by earth scientists.
There is a miscellaneous collection of manuals and reports of a cartographical or geographical nature.
Interdisciplinary relationships
Related subject areas; overlaps
Although the major interest is from the disciplines of the Earth Sciences, the collection also attracts consistent use from staff and students in the humanities and social sciences, law, business and economics, and agricultural sciences.
Coordination and cooperation in collecting (within UWA: with other institutions)
No cooperative collecting agreement for the Map Library exists with other institutions.
Scope of collecting
Languages collected or excluded
Generally English language material is collected. However, material that is cartographical in nature but in other languages is also collected, since maps and the symbology used therein are readily understood by most map users regardless of language of publication.
Geographical areas collected or excluded
No geographical areas are excluded.
Chronological periods collected or excluded
No chronological period is excluded.
Types (forms of) material collected or excluded
No forms of material are specifically excluded. The collection contains printed maps, aerial photographs and Landsat images. No digital databases have been acquired or developed.
Special considerations
None.
