MSU Map Library

The "Important Farmlands" map series from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is useful for evaluating proposals to build data centers in rural areas. The proposal by the City of Mason Government / Vevay Township is on Prime Farmland. The map series is available online at the BTAA Geoportal, this full map is at https://geo.btaa.org/catalog/p16022coll624:771 (edited to add road labels and proposed location)

Some of the important and unique farmlands of the Mission Peninsula area in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. From the USDA's Important Farmlands series of maps, this one made in 1977. Available online from the BTAA Geoportal geo.btaa.org
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The Big Ten Academic Alliance GIS Conference 2026 videos are now available as a Playlist on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNMgmHMZCEbebZZBXt0A0zq-cBgOHK126

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Registration is open for the 2026 Big Ten GIS Conference — a free virtual event on April 17, 2026.

The conference brings together students, researchers, educators, librarians, and geospatial professionals from across the Big Ten and beyond to share work and explore where geospatial research and practice are heading.

This year's keynote: Frank Donnelly, Head of GIS and Data Services at Brown University Library, presents the coordinated effort by the Data Rescue Project to preserve hundreds of federal geospatial datasets at risk of permanent loss.

There is still time to submit to the Map Gallery — deadline March 23 at 8 PM CT. The gallery showcases geospatial projects in a visual format and reaches a broad, interdisciplinary audience.

Closed captions will be provided throughout the event.

Register + submit: z.umn.edu/bigtengis
MSU Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences

The 1986 book "Photographs and Maps Go to Court" by American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing - ASPRS is the only known book about preparing maps and 3D models for use in courtroom proceedings. The production techniques are outdated, but the point about the power of showing and telling is still true. MSU Libraries MSU College of Law

Today! Learn to Make Your Own Online Maps with ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Online is a simple, browser-based tool for creating maps with data. Build mapping projects and share them on the web quickly.

In this workshop, you will learn how to add points to a map from a spreadsheet, explore comparison data within ArcGIS Online, and style and export your maps in multiple formats.

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Time: 4:00–5:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Location: Online (event link provided after registration)

Register today to start building your mapping skills. Link at the MSU Libraries events page! MSU Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences

Learn to Make Your Own Online Maps with ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Online is a simple, browser-based tool for creating maps with data. Build mapping projects and share them on the web quickly.

In this workshop, you will learn how to add points to a map from a spreadsheet, explore comparison data within ArcGIS Online, and style and export your maps in multiple formats.

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Time: 4:00–5:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Location: Online (event link provided after registration)

Register today to start building your mapping skills. Link at the MSU Libraries events page! MSU Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences

Today! Join us to learn ArcGIS Pro. This introductory workshop will walk you through loading data into ArcGIS Pro, creating a choropleth (color‑shaded) map, adding graduated symbols, and joining spreadsheet data with spatial layers. No prior experience with ArcGIS Pro or GIS is required.
---Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 4:30-6pm Eastern
---Location: Online (event link sent after registration)

Registration required. See the Map Library website or the MSU main library events page for the link.
MSU Libraries MSU Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences

Next week, join us to learn ArcGIS Pro. This introductory workshop will walk you through loading data into ArcGIS Pro, creating a choropleth (color‑shaded) map, adding graduated symbols, and joining spreadsheet data with spatial layers. No prior experience with ArcGIS Pro or GIS is required.
---Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 4:30-6pm Eastern
---Location: Online (event link sent after registration)

Registration required. See the Map Library website or the MSU main library events page for the link.
MSU Libraries MSU Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences

The online exhibit Soldiers of Production: Lansing and the Arsenal of Democracy highlights Lansing’s critical but often overlooked role in World War II industrial production. Focusing on companies such as Oldsmobile, REO, Motor Wheel, and Nash Kelvinator, explore the interactive map to discover stories of how the region became a vital hub in America’s wartime manufacturing effort. The website was developed by Michael Rodriguez and Kasey Wilson. Find the link on the Map Library homepage! MSU Libraries Capital Area District Libraries