Maps and Geospatial Electronic Resources Inventory

Overview

Many Penn State Libraries databases and/or products subscribed to by the University Libraries are used across disciplines. Maps and geospatial content can relate to multiple fields of study, as a primary focus of inquiry, or as a secondary manner to use in relation to other research methods. This inventory focuses on the maps and geospatial content of databases, where maps and geospatial information may not be their primary focus. For instance, with Ancestry Library Edition resource contains records with geographic addresses, place names, maps, atlases @ gazetteers. This project was completed by Maps and Geospatial Information Reference Assistants.

This project aimed to:

Describe maps and geospatial content and resources in Penn State Libraries Databases
Determine categories to inventory electronic resources for maps and geospatial content (vended products versus publicly accessible websites)
Record images of key maps and geospatial resources in Penn State Libraries Databases
Develop public-facing content for sharing via the web that aggregates findings of maps and geospatial resources in electronic databases for use across disciplines

Results

A table was created so that descriptions and categorization of electronic resources could be recorded. Of the items (819) listed on the databases listing page on the University Libraries website, 70 were determined to have maps and geospatial content. Of note, some of the items on the databases list of databases were identified as web links to other library pages, publicly accessible websites, and resources that don’t require a library subscription.

Table with brief descriptions of electronic resources and their map and geospatial content

-This table represents those electronic resources with map and geospatial content from the master database list on the Penn State University Libraries site.

Instructions:

1. To use this table, use column 1 to identify a database of interest based on name and description.

2. Visit the Penn State Libraries database listing and search for the database by name to access the electronic resource.

Powerpoint with brief description of electronic resources and their map and geospatial content. of content.

-This PowerPoint includes the following information on Electronic Resources that are available by subscription by Penn State University Libraries to highlight maps and geospatial content within these resources: Name, Brief Description, and Sample image from the electronic resource of maps and geospatial content.

Instructions:

1. Use the links from the categories to skip to a specific section, as desired. Electronic resources were grouped into broad categories to aid in the identification of relevant resources based on theme: news and current events; history; economics and business; U.S. politics and demographics; world politics and demographics; and miscellaneous.

2. Visit the Penn State Libraries database listing and search for the database by name to access the electronic resource.

People

Miranda Waldman, Jamie Friedken, Tara LaLonde

Acknowledgements

Supported by the Penn State University Libraries.