Are you a Scout working on a badge? Map nerd? History nerd? If so, this post is for you!
Did you know that historic atlases are still available? The Quincy Public Library houses several historic atlases, as well as a couple local plat maps. Not an extensive collection but we are definitely a good starting place. All of the historic atlases are located in the Illinois room. Some are on the atlas stand, while others are on the shelves - sorted into their appropriate location (either by Illinois county or by State). For example: We have atlases of Know & Schuyler Counties, as well as an Atlas of Historical County Borders, Illinois. We also have genealogical guidebooks combined with atlases from several European countries. None are available for check out, but you are more than welcome look through any of our historic atlases at the library.
Oh! And there are several maps in the Illinois Room's map case that you are more than welcome to dig through, at your leisure. As with the Quincy Public Library's historic atlases, the maps are not available for checkout. The good news is that there are plenty of tables in the Illinois Room that you can spread the maps out on.
If that isn't enough for your map related fix, we do have Rand-McNally road atlases at the Quincy Public Library. The current road atlas is in reference, while last year's is available for checkout, as well as a Road Atlas of the United States, Canada, & Mexico. There are other atlases, on a variety of topics. You can borrow some, such as The Writer's Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Worlds or Space Atlas: Mapping the Universe & Beyond, but there are several that are in the Quincy Public Library's reference collection, like the Civil War Atlas. Reference is not available for checkout but like Illinois Room materials, you are welcome to read the reference materials within the library building.
And if the Quincy Public Library doesn't have the map or the atlas you are looking for, we would be happy to help you look up online or even point you to another resource.
You never know, you might need those map skills! (Just as this year's Big Read book goes to show.) Might as well come to the library & practice as your leisure.