Geo-information literacy:
a necessary component of the Map/GIS Libraries
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)
HAROKOPIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CENTRE
Ifigenia Vardakosta, PhD
Head Librarian
Harokopio University of Athens
Library & Information Centre
ifigenia@hua.gr

Presentation Outline
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)
• Geo-information Literacy: Concepts and Definitions
• Methods of Geo-information Literacy implementation
• Map/GIS Librarians skills
• Conclusions
HAROKOIO UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CENTRE

Geo-information Literacy: Concepts and Definitions (1/3)
“Information Literacy is the set of integrated abilities
encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the
understanding of how information is produced and valued,
and the use of information in creating new knowledge and
participating ethically in communities of learning”
(ACRL, 2015)
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)

Geo-information Literacy: Concepts and Definitions (2/3)
Geographic Information literacy is a special subset of Information
Literacy. Geographic Information Literacy shares some general and specific
goals with Information Literacy (information search strategies, critical
evaluation of sources) but also possesses some special challenges
(searching for maps, and geographic data, evaluation of the ‘accuracy’ and
characteristics of spatial data and representations)
(Krygier & Peoples, 2003, p. 19 in Miller, Keller and Yore, 2005)
“Geospatial information literacy instruction is informed by
geographic literacies including geography, primary source, map, and
spatial literacies as well as data and digital literacies such as data
information literacy and the emerging cyber GIScience literacy”.
(Appel, 2020)
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)

Geo-information Literacy: Concepts and Definitions (3/3)
Spatial Literacy Skills include the ability to:
1) effectively read and create maps including assessment of the
source and use of the data presented,
2) collect and visualize data that is relevant and meaningful to
the scale of human experience, and
3) identify the role of space and place in a story including the
context and content of the story.
(Slayton & Benner, 2020)
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)

GeoInformation Literacy and Map/GIS Libraries
On college and university campuses, academic libraries
represent prime locations for teaching GIS and geospatial
concepts and skills
e.g.
• Northwestern Libraries
• University of Colorado Boulder
• Purdue University Libraries
• West Virginia University (WVU) Libraries
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)

Geo-Information
Literacy Methods
Use of
Literature GIL’s
Integration
into
Curriculum
Classes
Lesson
Plans
Train the
trainer
Workshops
Series of
Events
GIS Day
Geo-information Literacy Methods
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)

Map/GIS Librarians skills (1/2)
(Weimer, Andrew & Hughes, 2008)
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)
Level 1 - everyone needs to know, and at the entry level needs to master
in their first 1-2 years
Level 2 - most will need to know, but may depend on local circumstances
Level 3 - advanced level of specialization: very dependent on local user
needs, departmental staff and organizational structure
Map Librarian
I.C. Information Services
I.C.1. Reference & Instruction
Bibliographic/Cartographic Instruction
Development of formalized curricula for use in an
extended classroom situation or workshop (Level 3)
ALA - MAGERT Education Committee

Map/GIS Librarians skills (2/2)
(Weimer, Andrew & Hughes, 2008)
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)
GIS Librarian
II.A.2. Marketing & Outreach
Communication & Event Planning
•Ability to plan and organize events such as
GIS days, open house, etc.[Level 1]
• Presentation skills for demonstrations of
GIS [Level 1]
• Web development skills for promotion of
GIS services, GIS newsletters, etc. [Level 1]
• Assessment skills to identify current and
potential GIS users and partners [Level 2]
• Collaboration skills for identifying
potential internal and external partners
[Level 2]
ALA - MAGERT Education Committee
II.C. Information Services
II.C.1.Reference
II.C.3.Research
Consultation
•Knowledge of key GIS resources for data and
software support [Level 1]
• Knowledge of GIS tutorials & training
courses specific to patron needs [Level 1]
• Ability to perform basic spatial and geo-
processing activities [Level 1]
• Working knowledge of GIS products and
companies, i.e., in-depth knowledge of
appropriate web resources such as company
web sites (e.g., ESRI, Map Info, Idrisi) [Level 1]
• Knowledge of GIS applications specific to an
industry or discipline [Level 2]
II.C.2.Instruction
•Ability to develop and deliver formal
introductory GIS instruction sessions and/or
workshops [Level 1]
• Ability to conduct one-on-one
consultations [Level 1]
• Knowledge of instruction options and
ability to manage/facilitate access to
commercial options for instruction (e.g.,
ESRI Virtual Campus course access codes)
[Level 1]
•Working knowledge of GIS software - preferably more than one GIS [Level 1]
• Broad knowledge of data resources and discovery tools [Level 1]
• Working knowledge regarding data organization and data manipulation [Level 1]
• Working knowledge of presentation techniques [Level 1]
• Working knowledge of reference techniques [Level 1]
• Working knowledge of GIS project planning and implementation [Level 1]

Conclusions
•Map/GIS libraries should play an educational role in their
communities as they are the main open, democratic spaces
and connection points to help people while sustain a wide
range of infrastructure and collections.
•the decision of a university to deal with geo-information
literacy in favour of their patrons’ spatial skills indicates their
strategic orientation for the future.
•Map/GIS Librarians ought to deal with the educational aspect
of their profession in order to promote their collections and
develop the geo-information skills of their patrons.
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)

Thank you!
Ifigenia Vardakosta
ifigenia@hua.gr
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)

16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)
REFERENCES
•Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL). (2015). Framework for
information literacy for higher education.
http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework
•Appel, S. (2019). Geospatial Information Literacy Instruction: Frameworks,
Competency, and Threshold Concepts, Journal of Map & Geography Libraries, 15(2-
3), pp.134-151, DOI: 10.1080/15420353.2020.1760175
•Miller, J., Keller, C. P. & Yore, L. D. (2005). Suggested Geographic Information
Literacy for K-12, International Research in Geographical & Environmental
Education, 14(4), pp.243-250, DOI: 10.1080/10382040508668358
•National Geographic Society (2022) What is Geo-Literacy?
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/what-is-geo-literacy/
•Slayton, Emma & Benner, Jessica G. (2020) Using Spatial Storytelling as an
Approach to Teaching GIS and Spatial Literacy Skills, Journal of Map & Geography
Libraries, 16(3), pp.300-316, DOI: 10.1080/15420353.2021.1964673
•Weimer, K., Andrew, P. & Hughes, T. (2008). Map, GIS and Cataloging/Metadata
Librarian Core Competencies. ALA, MAGERT Education Committee
https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/sites/ala.org.educationcareers/files/content
/careers/corecomp/corecompspecial/magertcorecomp2008.pdf

Presentation Map
Aa, P. V. D. (1700) Greece: According to New Observations by the Gentlemen at the Royal
Science Academy. [Leiden: Pieter van der Aa, to 1733] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of
Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668537/.
16th International Cartographic Association Conference on Digital Approaches to Cartographic Heritage
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 22-24 September 2022
supported by the Map & Geoinformation Curators Croup (MAGIC)