Supporting the Information Needs of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Users in an Academic Library

Abstract

The growing use of GIS in university research and teaching environments has created a demand for data, software, and technical support that is best accommodated by a central GIS service provider. The library is a natural candidate for this role. While some academic libraries only provide GIS-formatted data, others offer exhaustive services, ranging from GIS courses to contract GIS work for students and faculty upon demand. This paper discusses how the Stanford University Library System has integrated GIS support into its suite of services offered to patrons across all academic disciplines. Two case studies illustrate how the library meets patrons' diverse and detailed GIS information and technical needs.

Key Words:

• GIS
• academic libraries
• spatial data