How do I implement a google maps like data visualisation project?

I'm new to the web development scene and at the moment have limited knowledge about it. I would like to implement a little data visualisation project. It involves text and image data begin pulled from a database and being displayed within various two dimensional shapes in the browser's viewport. These shapes would be sorted in the x-y plane according to some rules (i.e. each datum is going to be characterised numerically and be placed on the "map" according to that/those parameters). The user should be able to traverse this plane by clicking and dragging, much like google maps. Furthermore, the user should have the ability to click on these shapes and change the information contained in them.

I have no idea how to implement this. Do I use OpenLayers? Canvas wizardry? I would like to build it myself as an exercise, but suggestions of relevant libraries are welcome.

Thank you!