{{distinguish|text=[[Index mapping]], an array technique in computer science}}
[[File:Index_map.jpg|thumb|An index map of South and Central America]]
'''Index maps''' are a type of [[finding aid]] that allowenables users to find a set of maps covering their regions of interest along with the name or number of the relevant map sheet. An index map provides [[geospatial]] data on either a sheet of paper or a [[Computer display|computer screen]]. In this way, a map acts as a kind of [[gazetteer]], with the ___location (such as a call number) represented within a grid overlaying the mapsmap's surface.<ref>{{Citation | last = Jensen | first = K.L. | title = Index maps for the digital age | journal = Information Technology and Libraries | volume = 23 | issue = 2 | pages = 81–7 | date = June 2004 }}</ref>
One important reason for thisusing [[geospatial]] data isinstead becauseof political borders is because the latter often change. Information is searched by coordinates, rather than the [[metadata]] for a particular country and region that can be entered into a catalog. Additionally, in various institutions, maps are sometimes cataloged individually or as sets, resulting in various levels of specificity.
