Reexamining Geospatial Instruction through the “Digital Place”

abstract:In the wake of a global pandemic, an economic recession, and police violence, the role of libraries as a safe place is critical. These events have changed how librarians provide instruction and build communities within the university and outside it. This article discusses how the authors changed their approach to geospatial and data analysis instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the theoretical lens of Ray Oldenburg and Robert Putnam, the article describes the relationship between the role of the library and social capital. It discusses the challenges the library faced and how it worked to meet them. The article addresses two distinct questions: (1) How can the library broaden its social network outside the university community to address lack of economic opportunity and other inequities? and (2) How can the library increase remote opportunities and continue to provide the social capital the university expects from it? The results indicate that while librarians cannot solve all their challenges, they can continue to address them by encouraging accessibility in instruction and learning.