Map Library, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

It finals week! I know this is a stressful time for everyone but the Map Library has your back! We are open 8:30am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Come visit for an open space to study solo, or even in groups! We would love to have you and good luck to everyone!

Map: G3201.E11999 .N3 Source: https://www.historyoasis.com/post/original-use-coca-cola

Well, On May 8, 1886, Dr. John Stith Pemberton served the first glass of Coca-Cola at Jacobs' Pharmacy in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. As you can see on the map, Coca-Cola consumption has sky-rocketed across the world since then. Drink a bottle in appreciation of this anniversary!

April showers bring May flowers-or so they say! Rain has still been showering down but don’t worry flowers are too sprouting everywhere you look! This map displays a world of beautiful flowers to encourage you during this spring season. Which flower is your favorite?
Map: G3201.D2 1972 .J6

Are you ready for some Map Library Trivia? Here are 3 questions about our library’s history and collections. Lets see how much you know!
The answers are located on the last slide!

Map: G3804.N4:2F5E646 2003 .M4

It’s Jazz Appreciation Month! This map presents the origin of many of the legendary artists in none other than Queens, New York! Celebrate the vibrant history by popping on some Ella Fitzgerald or John Coltrane and “JAM” out to the great musical icons!

It’s tornado season! This map displays the tornadoes that hit areas of Chicago from 1876-1976. It also reveals that in the month of April, tornadoes were at their highest, especially during the evenings. This is almost identical to the occurrences today, almost 50 years later!
G4104.C6C86 1976 .C6

I hope you had a great first week back! Treat yourself to a visit to the Map Library and discover a series of captivating maps!
We are open Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5pm, and located on the 4th floor of the Main Library. Hope to see you soon!

Florida Treasure Map

Happy Spring Break! Did you know the most popular place to go for Spring Break is Florida? It is such an iconic place that treasure is even known to be found there! This map shows all of the treasure in the state, dating back to the 1500s, so you could even search to find it!

150 years ago, UIUC opened for students That’s right, on March 2, 1868, the University of Illinois had its first day of classes! The opening class consisted of only 77 students and two faculty members!
This map is a comical version of the olden-day campus.

The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was recorded in February 1837! In our own appreciation of Mardi Gras, here is a vibrant map of New Orleans dating back to 1972! Bring the party over to the Map Library as you come to check them out!

Map: G4014.N5A5 1972 .T72

Cinemaps : An Atlas of Great Movies Q. PN1995.9.M28 D44 2017

Cinemaps : An Atlas of Great Movies Q. PN1995.9.M28 D44 2017

Let’s hold space for the classic musical, based off the legendary Wizard of Oz in 1939! This map displays the journey taken by each character in the Wizard of Oz! Follow along the paths and decide which character you would want to accompany!
Hope a path leads you to our library!

The Map Library has you covered for all things love! With this map you can learn about love languages through history and how it has been expressed around the world! We have plenty of love to share so don’t be shy to come visit!

Display case of maps and books all related to black history.

It’s Black History Month! Come check out our special exhibit that displays the culture and history of black communities around the world! We have a plethora of books, maps, and art all to encourage the understanding of this significant month!

Image of the moon and its lunar formations.

February 6, 1971, Alan Shephard, apart of mission Apollo 14, made history for the only person to hit golf balls on the moon! If you had the chance, what would you want to be the first to do on the moon?
Image: map of the moon and its lunar formations in 1971. G3196.A4 1959.S81

Welcome back UIUC! Hope you had a great start of the semester! Stay as warm as you can and come visit, Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5pm, to explore our unique maps!

Photo of title pages of 3 editions of Comparative Atlas published in early 20th century.

On my desk today -- 3 different editions of the same atlas with no easily identified differences except for the edition statement and no publication date!

Photo of Total Eclipse, a map showing the 2024 solar eclipse route over the United States, by Kenneth Field.

On my desk today: Total Eclipse by @kennethfield.bsky.social It made it back to Champaign safely from #NACIS2024 in Tacoma ... but a month later still is a little bit curled from being rolled in my suitcase.

Photo of News-Gazette 2024 presidental election maps

On my desk today -- to catalog and add to the collection. We collect data-driven maps fairly aggressively from @nytimes.com and @washingtonpost.com but maps appear rarely in the local paper.

Photograph of exhibit case showing 5 maps published during the 1920s

Not everything fit in last Friday's exhibit for the 100th anniversary celebration of the #UIUC Main Library building -- so we put together a supplemental exhibit in the Map Library.

Preparing for the annual University Library graduate assistant training session about Special Collections Division collections and services. #UIUC

Big University Foundation/donor event last week celebrating the 100th anniversary of the #UIUC Main Library building. Map Library was there with maps published during the 1920s.