Abstract
Programs for geospatial support at academic libraries have evolved over the past decade in response to changing campus needs and developing technologies. Geospatial applications have matured tremendously in this time, emerging from specialty tools to become broadly used across numerous disciplines. At many universities, the library has served as a central resource allowing students and faculty across academic departments access to GIS resources. Today, as many academic libraries evaluate their spaces and services, GIS and data services are central in discussions on how to further engage with patrons and meet increasingly diverse researcher needs. As library programs evolve to support increasingly technical data and GIS needs, many universities are faced with similar challenges and opportunities. To explore these themes, data and GIS services librarians and GIS specialists from five universities—the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Texas A&M, New York University, North Carolina State University, and California Polytechnic State University—with different models of library geospatial and data support, describe their programs to help identify common services, as well as unique challenges, opportunities, and future plans.
APPENDIX A. Additional Resources
- ALA Maps and Geospatial Information Round Table (MAGIRT), . http://magirt.ala.libguides.com/resources
- Aufmuth, Joe.2006. Centralized vs. distributed systems: Academic library models for GIS and remote sensing activities on campus. . http://hdl.handle.net/2142/3678
- Bennett, TerranceB., and ShawnW.Nicholson. 2007. Research libraries: Connecting users to numeric and spatial resources. Social Science Computer Review25(3): 302–318.
- Campbell, James.2011. Survey: Contributing or using spatially-referenced data in commons environments. Part of unpublished dissertation, Department of Spatial Information Science and Engineering, University of Maine.
- Davie, D.Kevin, JamesFox, and BarbaraPreece. 1999. The ARL Geographic Information Systems Literacy Project. SPEC Kit 238. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries.
- Florance, Patrick.2006. GIS collection development within an academic library. Library Trends55(2): 222–234.
- Gluck, Myke and Lixin Yu. 2000. Geographic information systems: Background, frameworks, and uses in libraries. Advances in Librarianship23: 1–38.
- . http://www.nmc.org/publications/2013-horizon-report-higher-ed
- Hoover, Jasmine.2012. GIS Collaborations in Saskatchewan: SGIC and the University of Saskatchewan Library. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries8: 68–79.
- Houser, Rhonda.2006. Building a library GIS Service from the ground up. Library Trends55(2): 315–326.
- Johnson, Larry, SamanthaAdams, MalcolmCummins, VictoriaEstrada, AlexFreeman, and HollyLudgate. 2013. The NMC Horizon Report: 2013 higher education edition. . http://www.nmc.org/publications/2013-horizon-report-higher-ed
- Kelly, Linda.2013. Maps, libraries and the ‘GIS librarian’: An informal review of international cartographic libraries. South African Journal of Geomatics2(2): 163–174.
- Kinikin, JaNae, and KeithHench. 2005. Survey of gis implementation and use within smaller academic libraries. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship42.
- March, GregoryH.2011. Surveying campus GIS and GPS users to determine role and level of library services. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries7(2): 154–183.
- Moulder, Cathy.2014. Current literature on geographic information systems and libraries. McMaster University Libraries. Lloyd Reeds Map Collection. . http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/current-literature-gis-and-libraries
- Newton, MarkP., C.C.Miller, and MarianneStowellBracke. 2011. Librarian Roles in institutional repository data set collecting: Outcomes of a research library task force. Collection Management36: 53–67.
- Olson, JohnA.2004. Library-based GIS labs. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries1(1): 75–88.
- ———. 2009. Data as a Service: Are we in the clouds?Journal of Map & Geography Libraries6(1) (. December 31): 76–78.
- Parrish, Abraham.2006. Improving GIS consultations: A case study at Yale University Library. Library Trends55 (2): 327–339.
- Peters, Christie, and AnitaRileyDryden. 2011. Assessing the academic library's role in campus-wide research data management: A first step at the University of Houston. Science and Technology Libraries30(4): 387–403.
- Salem, J.A.2005. Spatial data collections and Services. SPEC Kit 291. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries.
- Scarletto, Edith.2011. Collection development guidance through reference inquiry analysis: A study of map library patrons and their needs. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries7(2) (. May 1): 124–137.
- ———. 2013. Data driven program planning for GIS instruction. Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship73.
- Salem, J.A.2005. Spatial data collections and services. SPEC Kit 291. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries.
- Sweetkind-Singer, Julie, and MeredithWilliams. 2001. Supporting the information needs of geographic information systems (GIS) users in an academic library. Science & Technology Libraries21(3-4): 175–190.
- Tenopir, Carol, BenBirch, and SuzieAllard. 2012. Academic libraries and research data services: Current practices and plans for the future. An ACRL White Paper.
- Todd, JuliaL.2008. GIS and libraries: A cross-disciplinary approach. Online32 (5): 14–18.
- Vardakosta, Ifigeneia, and Sarantos Kapidakis. 2011. Geographic collections development policies and GIS services: A research in US academic libraries’ Websites. In First Workshop on Digital Information Management, Corfu, Greece, 30–31 March, 2011.
- Vinopal, Jennifer, and Monica McCormick. 2013. Supporting digital scholarship in research libraries: Scalability and sustainability. Journal of Library Administration53(1): 27–42.
Notes
1The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. “General Information about the University.” http://oira.unc.edu/facts-and-figures/general-information-about-unc/, The Graduate School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “For Prospective Students.” http://gradschool.unc.edu/prospective.html
2The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries. “About UNC Libraries.” http://library.unc.edu/about/.
3The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Office of the University Registrar. “Schedule of Classes.” http://registrar.unc.edu/courses/schedule-of-classes/#search
4The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Information Technology Services. “Carolina Computing Initiative.” http://cci.unc.edu/about-cci/
5“LibraryH3lp,” LibraryH3lp, accessed November 10, 2013, http://libraryh3lp.com/
6“GIS & Data Services,” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Library, accessed November 10, 2013, http://library.unc.edu/services/data/
7“Course Guide for GIS Classes,” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Library, accessed November 10, 2013, http://guides.lib.unc.edu/gis
8“uncgis,” Nine Fives Software, accessed November 10, 2013, https://pinboard.in/u:uncgis
9“Spatial Data Online,” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Library, accessed November 10, 2013, http://guides.lib.unc.edu/spatialdata
10“About the Repository,” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Library, accessed November 10, 2013, https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/scontent/aboutPages/aboutTheRepository.xml
11“GIS Assistance,” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Library, accessed November 10, 2013, http://library.unc.edu/services/data/gis-assistance/.
12“YouCanBook.Me,” YouCanBook.Me, accessed November 10, 2013, https://youcanbook.me/
13“For Graduates and Post Docs: Graduate Research Consultant (GRC) Program,” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Office for Undergraduate Research, accessed November 6, 2013, http://www.unc.edu/depts/our/grads_post/grads_grc.html
14“Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Services: USDA Historical Aerial Photos,” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Library, accessed November 10, 2013, http://www2.lib.unc.edu/reference/gis/USDA/index.html
15“Service Credits Overview,” Esri, accessed January 8, 2014, http://www.Esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisonline/credits
16Texas A&M University. “Facts About Research.” http://www.tamu.edu/about/facts/research.html
17Texas A&M University. “Facts About Research.” http://www.tamu.edu/faculties
18Ibid, and Texas A&M University. “Resources for Faculty Members.” http://www.tamu.edu/faculties/
19Texas A&M University, “Texas A&M University Facts” http://www.tamu.edu/about/facts/history.html
20Texas A&M University, “Texas A&M University Facts” and “History of the University.” http://www.tamu.edu/about/facts/history.html, http://www.tamu.edu/about/facts/
21Texas A&M University Geography Department. “GIS/RS Certificate Program.” http://geography.tamu.edu/research/giscience-and-remote-sensing/gis–rs-certification
22Texas A&M University. Map and GIS Collections and Services. “GIS and Remote Sensing Courses Offered At Texas A&M University.” http://library.tamu.edu/pdfs/GIS%20Courses-1Column.pdf
24New York University. “Fast Facts.” http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/nyu-facts/fast-facts.html
25New York University. “History of NYU.” http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/history-of-nyu.html
27New York University. Institute of Fine Arts. “Current IFA Projects at Abydos.” http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/fineart/academics/abydos/abydos-current.htm
35http://nyu.libguides.com/content.php?pid = 169769&sid = 1723559
36Method: when a GIS query is addressed and resolved, Data Services records it as one GIS interaction. If the query requires threaded/multiple interactions, it is still recorded as one interaction, unless the requirement of the query has changed.
37NC State University. 2013. “NC State University at a Glance.” http://www.ncsu.edu/about-nc-state/quick-view/
38Web content for the Geovisualization Laboratory is still under development, as of the writing of this article. Presently, more information can be found at http://cnr.ncsu.edu/blogs/cga, http://www.ncsu.edu/project/cnr/dev/ceo/, and http://cnr.ncsu.edu/prtm/research/visualization_lab.php
39Open Source Geospatial Research and Education Laboratory Web site: http://gis.ncsu.edu/osgeorel
40NC State University. Office of the Provost, 2012. “Chancellor's Faculty Excellence Program.” http://provost.ncsu.edu/special-initiatives/chancellors-faculty-excellence/
41Cheshire, Heather, e-mail message to author, October 1, 2013.
42GIS computer software list: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/gis/software.html
43Libraries’ Research Workshops Web site: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/researchworkshops
44Data Management Planning Web site: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/guides/datamanagement
45Geospatial Data Archiving Project Web site: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/ncgdap
46Geospatial Multistate Archive and Preservation Partnership Web site: http://www.geomapp.net