About MAGIC

The University of Connecticut Libraries' Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC), collects maps, atlases, gazetteers, aerial photographs, and digital geospatial data pertaining to the state of Connecticut, New England and the world. MAGIC digitizes public-domain and copyright free maps and resources in order to enable researchers to have digital access to this resources. MAGIC's is focused on "Digitizing the Past to Empower 21st Century Research" as we work to develop a interdisciplinary collection of geospatial resources and maps which focus upon the state of Connecticut. MAGIC provides assistance with GIS questions, Web Map Service (WMS), and Mash-ups utilizing data on the MAGIC website.

Collaboration

Collaboration is essential for the success of MAGIC to meet the needs of our diverse users. If you are looking for collaborators on a geospatial data project or looking for opportunities to share your data with the public, contact MAGIC at: magic@uconn.edu.

Annual Report

MAGIC's 2008 Annual Report provides an overview of the projects and activities from 2008 and forthcoming enhancements which will be released in early-mid 2009.

Maps

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map collection comprises the core of MAGIC's total holdings of more than 180,000 sheets.

In addition to 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle coverage of the United States, MAGIC has general topographic coverage of many countries at scales up to 1:250,000.

Large-scale topographic maps of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central America, as well as small- and medium-scale topographic maps of the world, are found in the collection.

MAGIC's collection of Connecticut maps is notable, particularly for the 20th Century. While its collection of historical maps is limited, facsimiles and digital surrogates of the cartographic history of the state are available at MAGIC and on this website.

A large format (36"-wide roll) B&W copier is available for a fee of $1.50 a running foot.

Atlases

Atlases are bound collections of maps, and can be regional, thematic, or historical. Thematic atlases provide detailed information in a specific field, such as meteorology, oceanography, transportation, agriculture, and other subjects. MAGIC maintains a current collection of state and national atlases. Used with regional atlases, these provide a comprehensive geographic perspective of the nations of the world. Facsimile and historical atlases provide a window to the past.

Gazetteers

Gazetteers are dictionaries of place-names. They provide the standardized spelling, pronunciation, and exact latitude and longitude of a locale. Many gazetteers also include information on the history, industry, politics, and population of an area. MAGIC has a complete collection of Defense Mapping Agency gazetteers (on microform), which list all place-names or named geographic features noted in the Army Map Service series maps. MAGIC also owns historical gazetteers from the United States and other countries. These help locate places that no longer exist or have undergone name changes over time.

Cartography

Cartography is the study of map-making. The reference collection at MAGIC contains materials on the history of cartography, current trends in computer cartography and remote sensing, and other aspects of map-making. A 36" x 26" light table (for tracing) is available.

Digital Geospatial Data

ArcGIS provides analysis tools for vector data. ArcGIS is available for public use in the Microlab on Level 1 of the Homer Babbidge Library. A desktop color scanner is available for staff-assisted data input in MAGIC. Scanned maps and photos may be saved on a CD or flash drive supplied by the user. There are over 20,000 digital geospatial data files ranging from demographic to natural resource data, base map features, and scanned historical maps, available on the MAGIC website.

Remotely Sensed Imagery

Imagery is the raw material of contemporary map-making. Aerial photography, color infrared, satellite imagery, and side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) offer the user a variety of new ways to look at the earth's surface. MAGIC houses the 1951, 1970, 1986, 1990, 1995, and other limited years (based on quadrangle) aerial surveys of Connecticut. In addition, digital orthophotography for the state (by town), and for the Hartford Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) from 1995, are available on the MAGIC website.

Access

Books and selected maps from MAGIC are listed in HOMER, the UConn Libraries' online catalog, http://homerweb.lib.uconn.edu. Reference staff is available to provide help with all materials, including those not accessed through the online catalog.

Location

Homer Babbidge Library, Level 4

MAGIC is fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

Hours

The Map Library reading room (Geocommons) is open all hours the Homer Babbidge Library is open.

*During the Academic Year, research assistance is available: Monday-Friday: 9 AM - Noon and 1 PM - 4 PM Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED

Website Design and Code Acknowledgements

Website Layout is based upon Matthew James Taylor's The Perfect 3 Column Liquid Layout

Research Help Status is from the Realmac Software Forum

Pop-over menus for adding mash-ups on your own website are from Lightbox 2 by Lokesh Dhakar.

Icons for Facebook, Delicious and others are from iconspedia.

Search interfaces and result pages were created using Google Custom Search Engine (CSE)

Article Search Multi-database search provided by EBSCO Search Box Builder.

Website statistics are obtained using Google Analytics.

Research help chat via webpage provided by Meebo using the MeeboMe widget.

Share icon and capability provided by Add This.

MAGIC's blog is hosted on Google's Blogger Platform.

RSS Feed incorporation on MAGIC's homepage uses Google Reader.

RSS analytics provided by Google's Feedburner.

Curved Corners for Website are based upon CurvyCorners Code.

Map 3D Wall utilizes Cooliris embeddable wall code.

Historical Map Collection is hosted on Flickr.

Mash-up inspiration and code based upon Mike Williams google maps api tutorials.

Mash-up troubleshooting and ideas provided by Google Maps Discussion Board.