Cooperate, Educate and Develop: A Methodology Approach for Implementing Geographical Collections

Abstract The geographic information is a commodity of high economic and political value, which in addition supports a variety of state services to the citizens. The opportunities for libraries are related to the development of geographical services and collections. That makes the guidance and the educational support essential for meeting the needs of a variety of users with a range of skills and levels of knowledge. In Greece, Map/GIS Librarianship is in its infancy and users consider libraries insufficient to cover their geographical needs. Nevertheless, in recent years, many organized and cooperative efforts have been made towards to geographical collections re-organization, to the adoption of new practices, and to the communication of their services to their communities, so to gain their trust. This paper brings together results from various conducted researches related to the development of a geographical collection in Greece. After processing, the results from these researches reinforced by the international bibliography and several examples of Map/GIS libraries, formulated a methodology approach regarding the steps and practices to be followed by a library that intends to develop a geographic collection. The suggested practices can be adopted regardless of geographic region, and adapted by any library interested in developing geographical collections.