Geospatial Collection

Preserving Groundbreaking Research in Geography, Geoinformatics and Geographic Information Science

This fall, the UCSB Library acquired the academic archives of notable faculty emeritus Dr. Waldo R. Tobler (1930–2018) as part of our University Archives. The University Archives collects and preserves historical documents related to UCSB’s legacy and includes unique archival materials of esteemed faculty, including research and teaching notes and unpublished manuscripts.

Tom Brittnacher has worked at the UCSB Library for eight years, previously as the Geospatial Data Curator and then Geospatial Collection Strategist. On February 1, he became the Library’s first Curator of Geospatial and Digital Collections.

Fifty years ago, the UCSB Library created a separate unit to collect maps and aerial photographs. In 1979, the Map Room was renamed the Map & Imagery Laboratory (MIL) in order to acknowledge its role in supporting research and teaching on campus.  In the time since, MIL has evolved into one of the largest unique collections of cartographic materials in the nation. In particular, our collection of historic aerial photographs presents an unparalleled view of landscape change in California and beyond.