The document discusses the Geographical Collections in Greek academic libraries. It notes that only 14.2% of academic libraries support geographical collections and GIS services, with most librarians lacking skills in these areas. To address these issues, the Geographical Academic Libraries Group was formed with the main objectives of developing common policies, raising awareness of geographical information, and facilitating collaboration and resource sharing. The group has so far achieved a common catalogue and coordinated training, and future work includes participating in funded programs and further developing services.

1. HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE
Cooperation as a policy factor for strategic
development of a Geographical Collection:
The case of Greek Academic Libraries
Dr Ifigenia Vardakosta
Head Librarian
Harokopio University
Library & Information Centre
ifigenia@hua.gr
15th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
22nd MAGIC Conference on Challenges in Modern Librarianship
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, ELTE Eötvös University
Online, 6-7 May 2021

2. HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE
• Geographical Collections in Greece: Defining the problem
• Issues for Greek libraries
• Geographical Academic Libraries Group: The response
• Challenges - Future Work
15th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
22nd MAGIC Conference on Challenges in Modern Librarianship
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, ELTE Eötvös University
Online, 6-7 May 2021
Outline

3. HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE
Geographical Collections in Greece: Defining the problem
• 14.2% of academic libraries sustain geographical collections and GIS services
• 86.4% of the libraries lack of GIS services (Liarou, 2015; Vardakosta & Kapidakis, 2012)
LIBRARIES/
SERVICES
• “not at all” 54% unable to identify potential needs regarding geographic information at their
institution
• 63% unable to manage a budget for geographical material
• 44.3% unaware of whether academic community produces geospatial data
• 78.1% librarians need additional skills so to be able to cope with a geo-library (Vardakosta et.al., 2016)
LIBRARIANS
• 46.7% consider the geospatial collections in Greece insufficient
• 82.2% choose the internet to cover their geo-digital needs
• 53.8% the use of Greek libraries do not fulfil their expectations
• 63.9% policies’ development as a factor to improve geographical collections (Vardakosta & Kapidakis, 2014)
USERS

4. Issues for Greek libraries
15th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
22nd MAGIC Conference on Challenges in Modern Librarianship
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, ELTE Eötvös University
Online, 6-7 May 2021
Collections
& Services
Librarians’
Training
Users
Access
HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE

5. HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE
Geographical Academic Libraries Group: The response
15th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
22nd MAGIC Conference on Challenges in Modern Librarianship
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, ELTE Eötvös University
Online, 6-7 May 2021

6. HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE
• The use of common policies for developing the geographical collections
• The utilization of geographical material that until recently may not have been managed
(recorded, processed and displayed)
• The awareness of librarians to the value of geographical information
• Taking joint actions to access digital sources of geographical interest aimed at saving
resources
• The improvement of geographical information services, through the development of
new tools and the expansion of the already offered services
• The exchange of ideas between professionals in the field of geographical information
(print and digital).
15th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
22nd MAGIC Conference on Challenges in Modern Librarianship
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, ELTE Eötvös University
Online, 6-7 May 2021
Main objectives

7. HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE
15th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
22nd MAGIC Conference on Challenges in Modern Librarianship
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, ELTE Eötvös University
Online, 6-7 May 2021
Achievements so far

8. HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE
15th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
22nd MAGIC Conference on Challenges in Modern Librarianship
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, ELTE Eötvös University
Online, 6-7 May 2021
• Group’s participation in funded programs
• Common integrated catalogue
• Coordinated training efforts
Future work

9. HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY & INFORMATION CENTRE
15th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
22nd MAGIC Conference on Challenges in Modern Librarianship
Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics, ELTE Eötvös University
Online, 6-7 May 2021
Thank you!
Photo credits@Eva Novotna
Gotha, 2018
Greek Geographical Academic Group
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/285855635749014