Geospatial Data Collection Policies, Technology and Open Source in Websites of Academic Libraries Worldwide

Ifigenia Vardakosta,Sarantos Kapidakis

doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2016.05.014

Ifigenia Vardakosta, Sarantos Kapidakis

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2016.05.014

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Abstract

The proliferation of geospatial data demands the engagement of information organizations, such as academic libraries, for their management and diffusion.The purpose of this paper is to reveal issues related to the development of geospatial collections and explore their efficient use as required by the current information environment. Thus, a research conducted on 363 websites of academic libraries worldwide and 136 websites maintaining geospatial collections were identified. The research questions were formed based on international bibliography and we applied a content analysis method for data extraction. Findings show a significant activity of academic libraries in providing GIS services in accordance with high rates in user education programs, creating the use of geospatial collection and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services more effective. Nevertheless, through their websites we obtained poor response to communicate geospatial collections policies. The majority of the academic libraries surveyed in this study provide commercial software to their users for managing data on a local level, while the minority of library patrons are able to use geospatial data via remote access. This paper explores aspects of development in geospatial collections in academic libraries that have not been adequately raised. Additionally, we provide an overview of geospatial collections worldwide.

Highlights

Academic libraries have reached a crossroad in terms of collecting, evaluating and managing resources (Borin & Yi, 2008)
We focused on the academic libraries that fulfil the following criteria: a) serve departments that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is an integral part of education / research process and provide geospatial collections, b) GIS collections and services were developed and managed by the library itself rather than by another department, institution or laboratory and; c) the above information is communicated to their patrons through their websites
We made the hypothesis that academic libraries in universities which inter alia operate departments whose curricula are based on the use of geospatial information and GIS, e.g. Geography, Geology, Topography, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, etc., have developed geospatial collections and provide GIS services

Summary

Introduction

Academic libraries have reached a crossroad in terms of collecting, evaluating and managing resources (Borin & Yi, 2008). At the same time libraries as dynamic organizations, are trying to expand their services in a global level, to meet the growing needs of their users. Collection development based on locally produced scientific data creates new challenges for librarians such as building or strengthening their relations with faculty and research centers/laboratories in the academic community; effective collection development will expand the services that can be offered by the library (Newton e.a., 2010). Production, procurement, and updating costs for geospatial data are high while the annual public expense for activities related to these in U.S exceeds $4.4 billion (Koontz, 2003)

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