The Map Library welcomes donations of maps, atlases, and related materials. The Map Librarian makes decisions about the acceptance, retention, cataloging and location of donated collections. Generally, materials that duplicate the collection or are otherwise not kept will be shared with other appropriate libraries or sold in University book sales. See the Libraries' Gifts of Collections Page for more information about the tax benefits of donating items to the library.

The Brunnschweiler Geography Library Endowment Fund was established in 1993 by Dr. Tamara Brunnschweiler for the acquisition and preservation of geography materials. Purchases from this fund are often old and rare maps and atlases relating to the MSU Libraries' mission. Below are some recent examples of projects made possible by the proceeds from the Brunnschweiler Endowment. Monetary donations to the Endowment may be made at the The Brunnschweiler Geography Library Endowment Fund website.

Some recent collection building efforts have been:

County atlases of Michigan The Map Library watches for opportunities to improve the already excellent collection of detailed county atlases. Modern atlases are collected systematically as they are published, but historical atlases, those published between 1859-1940, are acquired through antique book dealers. See more 1906 maps of Van Buren County, Michigan See a list of historic county atlases owned by the library	Detail from "Bangor Township" in [Van Buren County, Michigan] Compiled from Official Records and Local Inspection W.H. Goss, County Surveyor. drawn by M.K. Orton, 1906
Troye's New Map of the Transvaal Colony. Grahamstown, South Africa: Grocott & Sherry, [1899?]. 9 sheets. Researchers are hungry for maps that show great detail of an area, as these maps of Transvaal Colony do. The Troye's maps are especially appealing because not only are they of an area of interest to the MSU community, South Africa, but also because they show the Colony during an interesting point in their history between gold strikes and the Boer Wars. The Map Library currently holds 3 sheets of this 9 sheet set. We watch the antique map dealers for opportunities to buy additional sheets and hope to own the complete set.	Detail from Sheet 9, Troye's New Map of the Transvaal Colony
Karte von Ost China. [Berlin]: Royal Prussian land Survey, 1901-1912. 22 sheets. This German effort to map eastern China was the first precise topographic mapping of the area. We currently own 11 sheets of the 22 sheet set and watch the antique map dealers for more opportunities to build the collection.	Detail from Peking sheet, Karte von Ost China.
Preservation
Proceeds from the Brunnschweiler Endowment may also be used for conservation projects in the map and geography collections. Most general repair work is conducted on campus in the MSU Libraries Conservation Lab. Many atlas projects, however, are sent off-campus to a conservation lab skilled in the particular processes unique to oversized atlases and maps. Repair work ranges from $100 to $1,500 per piece.
An antique county atlas prior to conservation work.	Atlases after conservation work.
Pages of conserved atlases can be turned without fear of further damage to the piece.

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Contact Us:

MSU Map Library
Michigan State University
100 Library W308
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 432-6123 ext. 249
Page Editor: Kathleen Weessies | Updated:December 11, 2006