Kennedy Library - Map collection information

Part of a Geological Survey one inch to a mile map of Settle and Malham, West Riding of Yorkshire (now North Yorkshire), sheet 92NW, published 1892. To see a larger area click on the map. Other early geological maps.

The school's map collection is housed mainly in cabinets in the Kennedy Library. The cabinets are kept locked so access is only possible by asking the librarian.

People from outside the school who wish to use the collection should contact the librarian, Clare Gordon (email C.E.Gordon@leeds.ac.uk, telephone 0113 343 5210), in advance to make arrangements.

The maps are for reference use only, if you wish to make copies see the librarian.

Treat the maps with care, do not fold or mark them in any way. Maps are expensive and we do not have the funds to replace them if damage occurs.

If you have any questions about the map collection, please ask the librarian.

Coverage

The main part of the collection consists of geological maps of the United Kingdom including -

• British Geological Survey 1:50 000; 1:25 000; 1:250 000; magnetic and gravity maps and 6 inch County Series geological.
• Ordnance Survey 1:10 000 (6") topographic; 1:50 000 topographic.

Geological maps of Africa make up the next largest part of the collection, a reflection of the school's original strong links with Africa.

A copy of the Times Atlas of the World, a Road Atlas of Britain, an A-Z of Leeds and town plans of many town centres in Britain are available from the librarian.

Care of maps

Maps are expensive and we do not have the funds to replace them if damage occurs, therefore, in order to protect the collection please observe the following rules whenever you use the maps.

• No eating or drinking near the map (or in the Kennedy Library)
• Unfolded maps should never be folded. (Particularly maps on hangers that look as if they were once folded.) Folding reduces the lifetime of the map.
• If you have trouble refolding a folded map, then leave it unfolded, the librarian will fold it.
• No item should ever be marked even with pencil.
• Tracing should be done with a soft pencil only, as hard leads and pens damage the surface of the map.

Indexes and catalogues

About 11 000 maps are now in the Kennedy Library catalogue and can be searched by country, place, sheet number or series. A leaflet is available on using the catalogue.

A large graphic index is available marked with our stock for the Ordnance Survey 1:10 000 and 6” topographic maps. Other graphic indexes are available from the librarian including BGS 1:50 000 maps, 6” Yorkshire County series and 1:250 000 maps. Also a variety of graphic indexes are available for countries outside Britain marked with the stock of the Kennedy Library.

Information on maps not in the collection may be obtained from Geokatalog 2, which is a listing of currently available published mapping put out by a major map supplier.

If you wish to recommend a map for purchase or if we do not have any coverage of your field area, see the librarian.

Field maps

The collection includes extra, folded, copies of geological maps of the United Kingdom for use in the field. The main part of the collection is 1:50 000 maps, but there are also 1:25 000 and 1:250 000 maps.

Field Guides

The Kennedy Library holds a collection of field guides, mainly covering the British Isles. There is a web based guide to what we have. There is also a list of links to virtual field guides to areas of the British Isles

Ordering maps

If you wish to recommend a map for purchase, or if we do not have any coverage of your field area, see the librarian.

To order maps through the Kennedy Library see the librarian. If possible provide details of series, scale, publisher and place. Various sources are available to find out map details so do not worry if you cannot find out everything.

When buying maps on departmental funds, if possible treat the map received as a reference copy to be kept in the library, maps may be copied from here (subject to copyright) and the copies used for working on. This should save duplication of purchasing by sections within the school.

Aerial photographs

The aerial photographs in the Kennedy Library mainly cover Britain and Africa. They may be consulted on request. Cataloguing is in progress and aerial photographs are slowly being added to the map catalogue.

Copyright

The University has a web page with information about copyright and the licenses the University holds, including an Ordnance Survey license.