1. Digital Mapping & Libraries
Health & Life Sciences Librarian here at the Universities at Shady Grove
During my talk I hope to provide a little background about why I decided to use digital mapping or GIS tools in my work as a librarian, how I began to learn about and how to use these tools, examples of ways different types of libraries can use GIS and digital maps, overview of some tools
Eileen G. Harrington
Priddy Library, The Universities at Shady Grove

2. A way to visualize information
What is GIS?
Geographic Information System
“a system for the management, analysis, and display of geographic information” (What is ArcGIS, ESRI Press, 2004)
Mapmaking software
A way to visualize information
Before I delve into my journey with GIS, I just want to give some background to what GIS is exactly

3. Why GIS?
Prior to developing workshops on using digital mapping tools in my library, I didn’t really have direct experience with it. I had heard about it, and I thought it might be a useful tool to bring to the library to support our faculty and students in their classes and research for several reasons:
Visualization—another way to visualize data, much like pie charts, line graphs, etc. ; More interactive and engaging way that you can present your data

4. Why GIS?
Visualization becoming more prevalent in society—see it everywhere so this is a skill that our students will need just to be informed citizens, but it is also a skill that they can add to their resume and use in various jobs. Opportunity for students to not only interact and interpret visualizations, but also create their own.

5. Why GIS?
Finally, GIS and GIS tools, like libraries are interdisciplinary. You can make maps on anything imaginable as long as it has a geographic component. Therefore, the library is really the ideal place to teach these skills. Also, to make maps you need data, and if you don’t already have the data to make your map, librarians can help you find it.

6. How I Began to Learn It Maps & the Geospatial Revolution
GIS Certificate Course
As I mentioned, I was new to GIS when I decided that it might be good to offer support and workshops on GIS tools. I drew on several different resources to begin to learn about GIS including:
MOOC offered by Penn State through Coursera—Maps & the Geospatial Revolution (
3 day course at George Mason University part of GIS certificate program (
Colleagues at University of Maryland—technically we are a branch of College Park libraries and they have GIS librarian on staff. I worked with people in this role to help develop and deliver programs
ESRI online courses—part of subscription to desktop version of software. I haven’t taken advantage of it yet, but will likely do so in the future.
Still an on-going process and still learning. Didn’t let not being an “expert” stop me from jumping in and beginning to offer workshops. I might not be able to help every student or meet the needs of everyone, but I can point them to people who can help. Also, helps with teaching since sometimes, we are learning together.

7. Academic Libraries & GIS
Workshops
Course-specific sessions
gispublichistory
At my library have Esri’s ArcGIS desktop software available on all computers, and I do an introductory workshop on using that software for a quantitative methods course in political science
Have also developed a drop-in, hands-on workshop on using ArcGIS Online and Story Maps—both developed by Esri. I have adapted this workshop for several classes and do a session in them—public history and public health
Marketed services and workshops through s to faculty at beginning of semester, my colleagues also promoted it this way, flyers around campus, on website, social media
For each of the workshops I have created LibGuides to go with them. (Go over links to Handouts, other information on LibGuide, show ArcGIS online and Story Maps websites—apps with step by step instructions)
School, public and special libraries could also do similar workshops

8. School Libraries & GIS Esri Lesson Plans & Resources
Google Maps & Earth – Education
s/education/

9. All Libraries Promote Services & Collections Alan Lomax Online Archive
Stanford University Librarians
Holidays/Special Events
World Cup of Books
Library History
Priddy Library History of Outreach & Cultural Exhibits/Events
Exhibit Extensions
Southern California Steelhead Story
Local Resources
B’More Farm & Food Map
Exhibit—e.g. U.S. Civil War, but then had a map other civil wars around the world during the 19th century
Local resources—such as local farmer’s markets, community events or other things that might not normally be mapped on Google Maps

10. Other Mapping Tools Carto (formerly CartoDB): https://carto.com/
Google My Maps:
Mapbox:
MapStory:
OpenStreetMap:
QGIS:
Scribble Maps:
Besides ArcGIS online and Story Maps there are other resources available.
--Carto has free and paid versions
--Google My Maps: free, good for maps where you want others to add points to them
--MapBox: free and paid versions
--MapStory & OpenStreet Map: global citizen mapping projects to share data
--QGIS is similar to ArcGIS desktop, but is open source
--Scribble Maps: free and paid version—more techie-based

11. Group Map: Characters from Favorite Books
Need a gmail account to be able to add a point. If don’t see the map, just zoom out with the minus sign. Can add links if want to websites in description.

12. Questions/Discussion
Eileen Harrington