Πολιτικές Ανάπτυξης Γεωχωρικών Συλλογών σε Open Access Περιβάλλον
Date Issued
September 18, 2018
Type
Διδακτορική Διατριβή
Abstract
Geographic Information in other words the Information about the exact location of objects or phenomena affects the decision making in many aspects of humans every day life like economy, environment, or land use. Today’s information society favors the production and the dissemination of geospatial data, the digital spatial information with a geographic component, in various types and forms. Libraries, after their long tradition and experience in the management of printed maps, are able to act as leaders in developing and supporting digital geospatial collections for the general audience. A geographical collection may consist of printed materials -such as books, journals, maps, atlases, aerial photos, technical reports, remote sense images- and digital materials with geographical content (topographic profiles, municipalities boundaries, streets, lakes, rivers, forests, digital orthophotos etc) as well as statistical data (such as censuses, demographics, economic georeferenced data). Through an organized information environment libraries may provide added value services based on geographic information, supporting educational and research needs of their users, under open access principles.
The development of digital geospatial collections in a library environment should be combined with the appropriate policies in order for the service to be effectively used. Geospatial Collection Development Policies are the main topic of research of this thesis which supports their importance and necessity for aims and functions mentioned above.
More specifically, in this thesis, a variety of methodological approaches (websites investigation, questionnaires, focus group, content analysis) were used in order for the implementation of geospatial collection to be investigated in libraries of U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The research was also expanded in institutional repositories seeking to define whether libraries develop geospatial collections based on the locally produced geospatial data with many benefits for faculty, researchers and as well as the academic institution.
Moreover, the research determined library’s use of policies and categorized them into “kinds” and “types”. Additionally, the research identifies the absence of geospatial collections in Greek academic libraries, identifies user’s needs and emphasizes Greek and Cypriot librarians’ lack of skills in the use of geographical information. Findings from the seven surveys that have been conducted in the context of the thesis, reveals policies, open access and cooperation as the major factors for a successful geospatial collection implementation.
Furthermore, findings led to the formulation of two models: The first, refers to the “Model for a Geospatial Collection Development” while the second focuses on the “Guidelines for a Geographical Collection Policy Development”.
The ultimate goal is the practical adjustment of the above two models, from those information professionals seeking to introduce their organizations into new forms of information, such as the geographical one, covering their users’ informational needs.
Subjects