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Find Maps

Find Maps

This tutorial helps students locate a map for a given topic and use it in a document.

Author

Danny Dotson, Associate Professor, The Ohio State University Libraries (dotson.77@osu.edu)

Time to Complete

20-30 minutes

License

Except where otherwise noted, content in this tutorial is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

Note for Instructors

This basic tutorial is designed for any course in which students need to locate a map on a given topic and insert it into a document. It is designed to not go beyond that level - the maps in this case are being used in a very basic and illustrative manner. No GIS is required. A sample assignment is also shared.

Learning Objectives

Section titled “Learning Objectives”

Through completing this tutorial, students will:

  1. Be able to locate a map on a needed topic in the BTAA Geoportal.
  2. Be able to download or copy a given map’s image.
  3. Be able to insert a map into a given document.
  4. Understand basic fair use and copyright implications for using maps in content.

Searching the BTAA Geoportal

Section titled “Searching the BTAA Geoportal”

IGeoportal Homepage How to search from the BTAA Geoportal homepage

  • The BTAA Geoportal contains both map images and data.
  • Users can find items by:
    • entering keyword
    • browsing categories
    • searching with the interactive map

Refining and interpreting results

Section titled “Refining and interpreting results”

This section walks the user through finding a map of Greenland.

Greenland Map Search Search for an old map of Greenland

  1. Enter the word Greenland in the BTAA Geoportal’s keyword box and press Search.

  2. On the search results page, scroll down to the Year facet on the left and enter 1800 in the second box and click Limit.

  3. Click on the item with the title that starts with A Map of Old Greenland or Øster Bygd & Wester Bygd : agreeable to Egede’s late description of Greenland.

IGreenland Map The Item View page for old map of Greenland

  1. Review the image on the map’s item page. In many cases, you will see a thumbnail of an image (if applicable) and then further details. This can help you decide if the item is useful.

IGreenland Map Metadata for the map

  1. Click the “Full Details” button to view the metadata about the map. This can help you decide if the item is useful.

IUMedia

  1. Click the “Cite” text in the right-hand panel. This displays a citation that you can copy into another document.

IUMedia The map hosted at the University of Minnesota

  1. Click the “Visit Source” button to take a closer look! You’ve now left the Geoportal and are on the University of Minnesota’s digital library, UMedia. Sources go to a variety of sites with their own characteristics and options. You may find additional details and downloads at the source website.

Downloading and placing images

Section titled “Downloading and placing images”

IUMedia

  • When you go to the source for a map image, look for options to download - this will usually give you better quality.
  • If no download widget displays, right click on the map image to bring up a box with options to copy, view, and/or save.

Placing images in a document¶

Section titled “Placing images in a document¶”

Place in document (Word, PowerPoint, Google Document, Google Slides, etc.) like you would any other image. If you right clicked and copied, then right click and paste. If you saved, insert and find where you placed the file, then choose the file.

Resizing images¶

Section titled “Resizing images¶”

It will very likely need to be resized. Most tools will allow you to do this manually by clicking on the image and then choosing one of the corners to resize. You can also crop, if desired.

Captioning and citing images¶

Section titled “Captioning and citing images¶”

Be sure to caption the image to indicate what it is. Also, you will want to cite the image, indicating whetee you got it from. The Geoportal provides a cite option for items, but you may need to adapt to the citation style required by your instructor.

Section titled “Copyright and fair use”

Here is a 5¢ tour of determining whether you can use an image. However, you should ask your instructor or librarian questions to be sure your use is okay.

Even if the ORIGINAL is older (such as our 1750 map example), the scan of the item may be covered by copyright. Assume all images online are copyrighted unless:

  • It is from a FEDERAL US Government source (items from state and local government sources may be copyrighted)
  • There is another statement of rights, such as a Creative Commons license.

So, can you use it?

Generally, if you are using it just in a class presentation or in an assignment submitted to your instructor, your use of the map would likely be considered fair use and acceptable. If your content is posted online for wider distribution, such as in a journal article or electronic thesis, this would NOT be considered fair use and you likely cannot use a copyrighted image without seeking permission from whoever owns the image.

More Resources

Section titled “More Resources”

Other places to find historical maps

Section titled “Other places to find historical maps”

Video walkthroughs of placing images

Section titled “Video walkthroughs of placing images”

Resources on copyright/fair use

Section titled “Resources on copyright/fair use”

Exercise

Section titled “Exercise”

Instructor:

  1. Set up a Google Slides deck with a slide with each student’s name.
  2. Make slides editable and share link with students.

Students:

  1. Go to the BTAA Geoportal.
  2. Find a map from a polar area (Greenland, Antarctica, Northern Scandinavia, etc.) of interest to you.
  3. Download or copy image from its original source (not the Geoportal thumbnail)
  4. Insert it into the slide with your name on it.
  5. Caption it.
  6. Provide the citation from the Geoportal.