Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore library research that uses geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to evaluate library services and resources to ascertain current trends and establish future directions for this growing research area.Design/methodology/approachThe study searched full text for geographic information systems in two databases: Library and Information Science Source (LISS) and Library, Information Science and Technology s (LISTA), replicating the method used in a prior literature review. The titles and abstracts of the search results were analyzed to gather only the research that used GIS as a tool to measure and analyze library services.FindingsThis study found growth in the last decade for library research using GIS. There remain two ways the tool is primarily used: to analyze service areas and to manage facilities and collections.Practical implicationsThe findings are relevant for library and information science researchers and practitioners because they summarize a specific area of research that has grown and changed and that still has potential to be used more widely. Using GIS in practice and research could benefit all library users and nonusers because spatial analysis facilitates more precise and informed delivery of services and resources.Originality/valueThe paper provides future directions for use of GIS in library research and attempts to define subdivisions within this research area to clarify the area for researchers and practitioners.
Highlights
Ten years ago, a literature review explored library research that utilized geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to measure and analyze library services (Bishop and Mandel, 2010)
This study reviewed the literature on the use of GIS in library research, searching full text for geographic information system* in two library-related databases available at the researchers’ institutions, Library and Information Science Source
A review was published of the literature for uses of GIS in library research (Bishop and Mandel, 2010)
Summary
A literature review explored library research that utilized geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to measure and analyze library services (Bishop and Mandel, 2010). This increase in access to geospatial data gives libraries and their communities more power to shape the world around them, but not embracing this potential empowerment might lead to marginalization (Byrne and Pickard, 2016). Goodchild (1992) proposing “Geographic Information Science” as a term that encompasses the scientific questions, methods, and knowledge that transcend the technology of any particular geographic information system This contribution conflated the use of the term as the common acronym in geography (i.e., GIS) meant at least both things to the same community. The term is further complicated in a literature review of library research due to the fact that information professionals provide services and resources related to organizing, accessing, and using geospatial data (Bishop and Grubesic, 20016). GIS offers other areas of research within LIS beyond geographic information librarianship or utilization of GIS as a tool to measure and analyze library services
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