Getting Started with GIS: A LITA Guide

Abstract

According to Eva Dodsworth, geographic information systems (GIS) can be defined as “a social, organizational and communication tool” (p. xi). The author indicates that her goal with this book is to provide readers with mapping knowledge and technology and teaching skills. Dodsworth provides a companion website to this text that provides additional resources and hands-on tutorials. While the potential use of GIS in a health or medical library setting will become apparent to most readers, it is also obvious that the use of GIS is not a quick undertaking. If you decide to take on a GIS project, you will need to outline your project, learn and play with the selected GIS program, and create your finished project. This is not written to scare you, but rather to reinforce the fact that time will be invested in a GIS project. The author takes the time in the first chapter to give a quick history of the development of cartography from traditional use to incorporation into the classroom, social media, literature, and libraries. Dodsworth introduces the statement that GIS is a skill that library staff needs to know to help their patrons as well as incorporate into library services and programs. She follows this up with examples of libraries using Google Earth for various library purposes and examples of how users are using GIS in their personal or professional lives. The reader progresses from the introduction of mapping and applications, to an entire chapter of hands-on tutorials that give step-by-step screen capture illustrations. She introduces and explains static maps, and these explanations are helpful for determining how and when to start a GIS project. Dodsworth also details what GIS data are and how to take existing library collections and turn them into geoprojects. She provides multiple examples of library projects and specific tools that were used to create the mapping. She concludes with presenting the need not only to put GIS in the library, but to have workshops for patrons and staff. She also advocates for the need to include this skill in library school programs for future librarians. Throughout the book, screen captures reinforce examples of geoprojects as well as the tutorials. Dodsworth provides references, some quite extensive, at the end of each chapter to broaden the breadth of resources presented in the book. She also provides a glossary of terms that is quite helpful in understanding new or unfamiliar terminology. Another useful feature is the use of boxes to enclose and define new terms. This work will become a well-used reference for the GIS library user.