CHARACTERISTICS OF GEOSCIENCE LIBRARIES AND ASSOCIATED TECHNOLOGY/USER-DRIVEN LIBRARY STRATEGIES: A SURVEY

A 2009 survey of geoscience librarians provides qualitive information on librarians’ roles as specialists, library collections, and the physical library’s space and function within the organization. The libraries represented in the survey vary across mission, size, user population and budget. Respondents’ perceptions of their libraries can help gauge the impact of technology and user expectations on decisions to manage library resources. Geoscience libraries, like most libraries, have experienced economic adversity and critical review of their value to the hosting organization. This is very much the case for many libraries in the current period of severe economic downturn in the United States. However, in this case user behaviors and technological applications in the information industry have developed to the point where it is feasible for libraries and their organizations to see library services in different ways and respond accordingly. Web-based information tools, virtual environments, electronic publishing, digital archives and resource-sharing capabilities provide viable options to the traditional library, and encourage changes in the nature of the geoscience library.