Dr. Christie Koontz Dean K. Jue GeoLib Program Florida Resources and Environmental Analysis Center

1. 2003 ESRI User ConferenceGIS Science Challenges II: Developing GIs-Based ModelsTuesday, July 8, 2003“Building Towards a National Public Library Geographic Database: 16,000 Libraries and Counting!” Dr. Christie Koontz Dean K. Jue GeoLib Program Florida Resources and Environmental Analysis Center Florida State University Tallahassee, FL

2. Presentation Outline • Background Public Library Geographic Database (PLGDB) • Local, State and National Need for PLGDB • Customer Markets • Map Layers and Features • Timeframe • Challenges

3. Background Public Library Geographic Database (PLGDB) • Timing is ‘right’ for Internet mapping, Geocortex product available • US 2000 Census Data ‘just came out’ • PLGDB basemap available--first digital inventory of US public libraries, was created in 200l by the GeoLib Program, Florida State University. • Project funding was awarded--current project is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS), in partnership with Information Institute, School of Information Studies, FSU

4. Need for PLGDB:Local Level • Quick access to national data at three levels over the Internet • Public librarians at the local level need knowledge of changing customer characteristics available from US Census, for optimal provision of library services to use in conjunction with library use statistics • These data are often difficult to access due to: lack of expertise in knowing where to access data; lack of knowledge of which US Census data to select; lack of knowledge of local GIS planning data

5. State Level • Statewide library customer and use data for optimal distribution of federal public library funds • Impact of federal funds upon geographic areas of the state by legislative district • Comparative US state data to leverage government officials to increase funds for specific customer markets

6. National Level • Policy decisions regarding equitable distribution of telecommunications discounts • Federal library funding agencies, e.g., Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), for congressional information requests such as the impact of IMLS funds

7. Customer Markets • Public Library Managers Over half of the 16,000 libraries serve populations under 5,000 people. Little planning data is available for smaller libraries. Larger libraries will benefit efficient access to large amounts of data in a geographic environment • Researchers The PLGDB contains layers of data that will be available at a more micro ‘drill down’ level for researchers inside and outside the public library field

8. Map Layers and Features • Public Libraries • Geographic Boundaries • Population Characteristics • Political Boundaries • Base Information • Special credit to developers Georgianna Strode, Haizhi Chen, and Otmar Olsina, FREAC/GeoLib staff

9. Public Libraries Layer

10. Geographic Boundaries Layer

11. Population Characteristics Layer

12. Political Boundaries Layer

13. Base Information Layer

14. Timeframe • Alpha launch (late June!) to advisory committee and select entities • Beta launch July 21 url: imf.geocortex.net/mapping/fsu/launch.html • Server returns to FSU/GeoLib from Geocortex • DB redesign occurs as feedback comes in • Customer markets are identified and prioritized • Sustainability in place by end of 2004

15. Challenges • Users who are not familiar with spatial data, or GIS • Datasets collected in different years, and caveats of joining these • Sustaining and maintaining PLGDB beyond years of funding

16. Contact:Dr. Christie Koontz or Dean K. JueGeoLib Programckoontz@admin.fsu.edudjue@admin.fsu.eduwww.geolib.org