Evaluating Map and Geospatial Academic Library Position Descriptions

Abstract

Map librarianship, in the past incorporating duties involving acquisition, cataloging, or curation of physical map and atlas collections, has evolved into a profession often requiring knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) software and data. This study examines descriptions for map and geospatial academic library positions from 2015 to 2020 with a goal of observing trends in requirements and specific duties for these roles. Institutions are recruiting individuals with strong backgrounds in geospatial technologies for some positions. However, a Master of Library and Information Science degree is still preferred for new hires in this field. Graduate library and information science programs can support future academic librarians by incorporating coursework related to geospatial data and traditional map resources into their curricula.