Code-Literacy for GIS Librarians: A Discussion of Languages, Use Cases, and Competencies

IF 0.3 Q4 INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE

Journal of Map & Geography Libraries Pub Date : 2019-01-02 DOI:10.1080/15420353.2019.1660754

Philip White, S. Powell

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Geospatial librarianship has always been inherently tied to technology, requiring that GIS librarians have specialized computer literacy. In recent years, the push for open science, transparency, and improved reproducibility in research has led to increased use of open source geospatial technology. These developments have led to a blending of GIScience with the emerging field of Data Science, and many students and researchers are increasingly using free and open source programming languages to complement or replace traditional GIS software. New data formats, modern modes of data exchange, and the data as a service trend require an intricate understanding of computer science. If GIS librarians are to meet the needs of current and future patrons, code-literacy will soon be a necessity, yet a discussion of these tools and skills are lacking in the literature of geospatial librarianship. This paper discusses the present revolution in geospatial technology, recommending an integration of coding skills into the most elemental levels of the Core Competencies for GIS Librarianship. We review two programming languages, R and Python, for their suitability for librarians wishing to advance their technical skills by either learning a new language or learning to program for the first time. Drawing from our own experiences, we discuss the potential of coding to transform how GIS librarians engage with their work.

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GIS图书馆员的代码素养:语言、用例和能力的讨论

地理空间图书馆工作一直与技术紧密相连，这就要求地理信息系统的图书馆员具有专门的计算机知识。近年来，对开放科学、透明度和改进研究可重复性的推动导致开源地理空间技术的使用增加。这些发展导致了GIS科学与新兴的数据科学领域的融合，许多学生和研究人员越来越多地使用免费和开源的编程语言来补充或取代传统的GIS软件。新的数据格式、现代的数据交换模式和数据即服务的趋势需要对计算机科学有复杂的理解。如果GIS图书馆员要满足当前和未来用户的需求，代码素养将很快成为必要，然而在地理空间图书馆学的文献中缺乏对这些工具和技能的讨论。本文讨论了当前地理空间技术的革命，建议将编码技能整合到GIS图书馆工作核心能力的最基本水平中。我们回顾了两种编程语言，R和Python，它们适合希望通过学习一门新语言或第一次学习编程来提高技术技能的图书馆员。根据我们自己的经验，我们讨论了编码的潜力，以改变GIS图书馆员如何参与他们的工作。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Map & Geography Libraries INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE-

CiteScore

0.60

自引率

83.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Map & Geography Libraries is a multidisciplinary publication that covers international research and information on the production, procurement, processing, and utilization of geographic and cartographic materials and geospatial information. Papers submitted undergo a rigorous peer-review process by professors, researchers, and practicing librarians with a passion for geography, cartographic materials, and the mapping and spatial sciences. The journal accepts original theory-based, case study, and practical papers that substantially advance an understanding of the mapping sciences in all of its forms to support users of map and geospatial collections, archives, and similar institutions.