Integrating Geographic Information Systems into Library Services

With the onslaught of emergent technology in academia, libraries are privy to many innovative techniques to recognize and classify geospatial data—above and beyond the traditional map librarianship. As librarians become more involved in the development and provision of GIS services and resources, they encounter both problems and solutions. Integrating Geographic Information Systems into Library Services: A Guide for Academic Libraries integrates traditional map librarianship and contemporary issues in digital librarianship within a framework of a global embedded information infrastructure, addressing technical, legal, and institutional factors such as collection development, reference and research services, and cataloging/metadata, as well as issues in accessibility and standards.

John Abresch has a Masters of Arts degree in geography and in library and information science. He has worked as a geographic information systems analyst in both the private and public sectors on many research projects, using both urban and environmental applications of GIS. Currently employed as an instructor librarian, research services and collections, in the Tampa library of the University of South Florida, Mr. Abresch is responsible for providing specialised research and reference services to social sciences faculty and graduate students. He also has collection development responsibility that encompasses geographic and GIS resources.

Ardis Hanson, MLS, is the director of the research library at the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida (USF). Interested in the use of technology to enhance research, she has presented at the USF Symposium on 21st Century Teaching Technologies and Internet2 showcasing innovative software applications. She is an adjunct instructor in the School of Library and Information Science and the College of Public Health at USF. Ms. Hanson was a member of the USF Virtual Library Planning Committee, the Implementation Team, the Interface Design Project Group, and the Metadata Team. In addition to being a member of the executive council of ACURIL (Association of Caribbean, University, Research, and Institutional Libraries), Ms. Hanson is pursuing a PhD in communication.

Susan Jane Heron, MLS, is the associate director of the Collection Analysis and Technical Services Department at the University of South Florida Libraries (USF). Previously, Ms. Heron was head of technical services at the University of San Diego, head of cataloging at San Diego State University, project coordinator for database conversion at Temple University, and a library liaison with the research libraries group. Ms. Heron was a member of the USF Virtual Library Implementation Team as well as the metadata, digitization, thesis and dissertation, and electronic reserve teams. Currently, Ms. Heron is on the State University System Technical Services Policy Committee, which is implementing ALEPH v.18 and examining metadata issues for geographic data and electronic resources.

Peter J. Reehling received a Master of Arts in geography from Ball State University and a second masters degree in library and information science from Indiana University. He is currently geographic information librarian at the University of South Florida. His duties range from the provision of GIS services to managing the ESRI Site License and coordinating the GIS Help Desk Coordinator. His collection development duties include the geography department and the military sciences. Previously, Mr. Reehling served as a geo-spatial analyst for the National Imagery and Mapping Agency and a geographer for the U.S. Census Bureau. Mr. Reehling is currently the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect chair of MAGERT (Map and Geography Round Table of the American Library Association).