About the Collection
Located on the lower level of Olin Library, the Cornell University Library Map Collection houses a geographically comprehensive collection of over 300,000 paper maps, 1,000 books and atlases, and many other related research materials.
The Map Collection is extensive and covers all parts of the world, although the quality of coverage varies. Here are some areas where the collections are particularly robust:
- United States, including USGS topographic and Sanborn Fire Insurance maps
- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York City, and New York State.
- Major European cities
- Asian countries; supplementary to the Kroch Library Asia Collections
Open by appointment Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm. To set up an appointment, email olinmaps@cornell.edu. More information on the collection and the services available can be found on the Map Collection page.
A note about our collections
The majority of the maps and atlases in our collections are historical and as such may reflect ideas and biases that we do not hold today. There may be elements of colonialism, imperialism, and racism that appear within our collections and it is important to regard these materials critically and consider the context in which they were originally created. Maps are not neutral resources; they were created by people for a specific purpose and during a fixed point in history. Just as maps often take a holistic view, so should any researcher or visitor who engages with these collections.