WHAT IS MADGIC?

MADGIC is…
 MAPS and ATLASES
 DATA (NUMERIC and GEOSPATIAL)
for use with special software
 GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
(parliamentary and other official
reports, statistics, etc.)

A CENTRE offering Expert

Assistance
@ Your Library
Where in the Web can I find
MADGIC?
Start from the
Library’s home page and choose
our home pages:
 Government Information
 Maps
 GIS
 Statistics
 Data Sets
Don’t forget to look at
Subject and Course pages where
you will find many topical Web
 MADGIC is for you if you
study…
Architecture /Art and
Culture/Biology/Business/ Canadian
Studies/Child Studies/Chemistry/Civil
and Environmental
Engineering/Criminology and Criminal
Justice/Earth Sciences/Economics/
Environmental Science/Geography,
Geomatics and Environmental
Studies/History/Human Rights/Industrial
Design/International Affairs/Journalism
and Communication/Law/Mass
Communication/Political Science and
Global Politics/Public Affairs and Policy
Management/Public Policy and
Administration/Social
 Why Use Maps, Atlases,
and Air Photos?

Present information clearly in a

visual way
Often the only source of
information, e.g. topographic
maps or land use maps
Atlases gather related spatial
information by theme and/or
time
Augment your research from an
Where to find the Map
Collection
Maps on the Web
Air Photos in our
collection
 What is ‘data’?
 Numeric data comprises highly
detailed datasets in digital file
formats which usually require a
statistical software package to
manipulate the results of a query.
 Public opinion poll data provides
the raw numbers for each question
asked by a poll
 GIS data is information about place
that can be viewed through a GIS
software and combined with other
 Why Use Numeric Data?
 Numeric data is at a more detailed
level than available in printed or
online statistical sources
 Public opinion polls can support or
counter arguments based on
responses to questions
 You can manipulate data files to
produce new combinations of
information using statistical
software

Our Data Centre on the
Web
Where to find the Data
Centre
 Why use Geospatial
Data?
Spatially located information is
best viewed as a map or image
Topographic data and air photos
support site planning for an
architectural project
Numeric data (for example
census data) can be combined
with spatial data to create new
map views of statistical
information
Create Google Earth mashups
Our GIS Collection on the
Web
Where to find GIS Data
 What is Government
Information?
 Information found in publications
or databases issued under the
authority of a government body or
by an intergovernmental
international organization such as
the United Nations or the World
Bank
 Government information is found
in sources such as parliamentary
bills, hearings and reports,
research reports done for
Why Use Government
Information?
Information from an authentic
source
Often the most current source
of information on a public issue
Best source for most statistics
Primary material for both
current and historic time
periods
Source documents on foreign
relations
Policies that reflect their era
can be tracked for change over
time
Government Information on
the Web
Where to find Government
Publications
 Search the Web using
MADGIC’s customized Web
search engines to get better
search results
Canadian federal, provincial and
municipal online information
African government information
Caribbean and Latin American
governments
International Organization’s
websites
Online maps
 MADGIC supports your
courses
MADGIC OFFERS:
Map Labs with course displays for
assignments
Course seminars that highlight
relevant resources with
accompanying Web guides matched
to course content
Data sets and sub-sets extracted
for course use
Wall maps and transparencies to
illustrate course themes
Visit MADGIC and enrich
your studies