ERIC Number: EJ1005055
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1522-8959
EISSN: N/A
Geospatial Services in Special Libraries: A Needs Assessment Perspective
Barnes, Ilana
Public Services Quarterly, v9 n2 p180-184 2013
Once limited to geographers and mapmakers, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has taken a growing central role in information management and visualization. Geospatial services run a gamut of different products and services from Google maps to ArcGIS servers to Mobile development. Geospatial services are not new. Libraries have been writing about their emergence since the 1980s (Gibbs, 1989). But what is new is that as libraries become more interested in emerging technologies, they are in a unique position to offer geospatial services in ways they could not in the past. As the emphasis of some special libraries shifts away from books and space, they may look to GIS as one potential new avenue to grow their specialized services. This article is meant to provide guidance to librarians who are interested in incorporating geospatial services into their special libraries. Not all special libraries need to develop geospatial services; through the process of conducting a needs assessment and environmental scan of resources, the library may find that existing users are being well-served by the services given by other organizations. Additionally, there may not be a large enough interest in the library's user group to warrant additional effort into education and outreach. As special libraries look for areas to expand their specialized resources, geospatial services are just one area that could be considered and expanded based on the needs of the library. Doing a needs assessment is by no means a promise of service, but rather it is the exploration of new choices and options in 21st century libraries.
Descriptors: Special Libraries, Information Management, Needs Assessment, Geographic Information Systems, Library Services, Library Development, Library Automation, Program Implementation, User Needs (Information), Guidance Objectives
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A