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For societies with a Cambridge focus click here 

American Geographical Society Library. 

Archives & Records Association (Society of Archivists). 

Association des Collectionneurs de Guides et Cartes Michelin (ACGCM). A society for those with an interest in Michelin maps and guides. There is also interesting information, including tips on the dating of Michelin maps.

Association of American Geographers. Has several Speciality Groups including Historical Geography. 

Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives (ACMLA). 

British and Irish Committee on Map Information and Cataloguing Systems (BRICMICS). A formal group with membership by invitation which represents libraries, archives, and other institutions and organisations involved in all aspects of map work in Great Britain and Ireland. It exists to exchange views and information and to monitor developments affecting map libraries and archives.

British Cartographic Society (BCS). Includes the Map Curators' Group, and the very useful Map Curators' Toolbox and Directory of UK Map Collections.  Included in the Toolbox is a pdf version of Military Publishers' Designationscompiled by Graham Webster. 

Cambridgeshire Records Society. Publishes facsimiles of several Cambridge maps.

Cartographers' Guild. A forum for cartography enthusists. Many members specialise in maps of fictional realms but there is also interest in historical and contemporary maps. 

Charles Close Society (CCS). A society dedicated to the study of Ordnance Survey maps. Publishes a regular newsletter, Sheetlines, and arranges visits, meetings, etc. Their publications can now be bought via their web site. The Charles Close Society Archives is a collection of Ordnance Survey and Directorate of Overseas Survey materials (mostly documents rather than maps) held at Cambridge University Library. The Society is also interested in overseas mapping. See, for example, the web pages compiled by a CCS member on Soviet Military Maps of Britain. CCS YouTube channel.

Defence Surveyors' Association (DSA). Includes copy of Maps and Survey by Brigadier A. B. Clough.

Hakluyt Society.

International Antiquarian Mapsellers Association (IAMA). Note: discontinued at end the of 2012.

International Cartographic Association (ICA). Various Commissions and Working Groups including those on Art & Cartography and the History of Cartography. Also publish a Newsletter.

International Map Collectors' Society (IMCOS).

International Map Industry Association (IMIA). (Previoulsy known as International Map Trade Association, IMTA) 

International Society for the History of the Map (ISHM). The objects of the Society are to promote scholarship, by researching, teaching, communicating and funding in the subject of the History of the Map in all societies over all periods of time. The founding meeting was held on 1st December 2011. (See also these web pages).

London Topographical Society (LTS).

Malta Map Society. Website includes access to their Newsletter

Map & Geoinformation Curators Group (MAGIC). Not for profit union of individuals dealing with Map Librarianship, Map Curatorship, and Map Archiving, representing Map Libraries, Map Archives, Map Collections and relevant entities dealing with cartographic material of analogue and digital type. MAGIC is associated with the ICA Commission on Cartographic Heritage into the Digital (Many of the members previously belonged to LIBER GdC (Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche) Groupe des Cartothécaires which disbanded in 2013

Map and Geospatial Information Round Table (MAGIRT) of the American Library Association. Their newsletter, Base Line, is available online. (Before the June 28, 2011, MAGIRT was known as Map and Geography Round Table, MAGERT).

Road Map Collectors Association. Emphasis on American oil company maps, and some of the information is for members only, but great source of information.

Society for the History of Discoveries.

Society for One-Place Studies.  Includes study of Trumpington, Cambridge

Society of Cartographers (SoC). Dissolved 2019 and merged with British Cartographic Society 

UK Cartography Committee (UKCC). A committee established to represent the UK cartographic community in all matters concerning the relationship of the UK with the International Cartographic Association (ICA) and other appropriate international organisations.

UK GEOForum. A group of societies and associations that represent the core interests that encompass geography, mapping and the geospatial information handling industry.

Western Front Association.  Has a great interest in World War I surveying and mapping and has some trench maps on it site. See TrenchMapper.

Washington Map Society. Issues of The Portolan, the Society's journal, are available online.

Western Association of Map Libraries (WAML). Most members are in USA. Includes lots of information of general usefulness plus online access to their Information Bulletin. Their Map Librarians' Toolbox is also packed full of information.

Opening Times

Map Room Opening Times

Monday to Thursday 9am to 12:45pm and 2pm to 5:10pm
Friday 9am to 12:45pm and 2pm to 4:50pm 

i.e., we are closed lunch time, in the evenings and on Saturdays. However, given sufficient notice, we may be able to transfer Map Department items to the Rare Books Reading Room for consultation during these closed periods. 

Remember: Pencils only in the Map Room and No food or drink!

Where to Find Us

Library Floorplan

The Map Room - the Map Department's Reading Room - is on the first floor of the Library at the far end of the North Gallery. At the top of the stairs from the Library's Entrance Hall, turn right and the Map Room is at the end of the corridor. 

We are very close to the Tea Room.

Contact us

Map Department 
Cambridge University Library 
West Road 
Cambridge 
CB3 9DR 

Email: maps@lib.cam.ac.uk

Telephone:
+44 (0) 1223 333041
+44 (0) 1223 333042
 
Our LibGuide may help with some enquiries