Geospatial Collections in Institutional Repositories (IRs): a survey in Map/GIS Libraries

Changes in scholarly publishing along with the rapid developments in technology are affecting user expectations and forcing academic libraries to significant changes in providing access to geospatial data and develop new services. Institutional Repositories (IRs) are considered effective tools for showcasing an organization’s scientific research by making it publicly available. The aim of this study was to determine the awareness of the development of locally produced geospatial data in an institutional repository, among the Map/GIS libraries of the western world. Anonymous survey of 56 questions, divided in 6 sections and covering several topics, was sent to Map/GIS libraries, members of Map and Libraries’ Organizations of western world. The survey took place on July and October 2015 after two phases of pilot distribution. Out of 382 questionnaires we sent, a total of 80 were finally adequate to be used. This paper will present those results related with the collection of geospatial data in the IR (36 responses) produced by the members of library’s academic community. The responses showed a statistically significant trend to the development of a locally produced geospatial data collection in the IR, although the annual budget is considered by the Map/GIS Librarians as “not at all satisfying” while in majority respondents indicate the use of policies for the locally produced geospatial data collection in the repository. As the three most important issues for this collection, respondents indicate: 1. data and metadata 2. policies and 3. finance. The development of a geospatial data collection is rather complex particularly with respect to issues related to organizational challenges and use practices, therefore, Map/GIS Librarians seem to be convinced that the formulation of policies, the open access to the data will be the critical points to accomplish a beneficial collection of the locally produced geospatial data in the IR