The GIS Centre and other data services at the Dalhousie Libraries have been brought together with the goal of supporting a wider variety of teaching, learning, and research activities.

Leading this activity will be the new Coordinator of GIS & Data Services, Gwen MacNairn. Gwen brings her impressive record of the provision of library services, experience in the development and oversight of staff training, and her knowledge of ESRI and GIS applications to this new system-wide role that began August 15. Gwen has a strong service orientation, having worked for the past fifteen years as the Computer Science Librarian for the Faculty of Computer Science, and most recently as the Assistant Head of the Killam Memorial Library. She is also the liaison librarian for the Medical Sciences program, and spends her time in the Kellogg and Killam Libraries in this capacity.

The creation of the Coordinator of GIS & Data Services position acknowledges that GIS and other data services are required to support the curriculum, in addition to supporting research, and the services will be aligned and strengthened across the five libraries at Dal. Other members of the team include Julie Marcoux, the Data Librarian, who helps Dalhousie’s community locate and access data and statistics in the most appropriate formats and promotes access to Canadian microdata through Dal Libraries’ resources. James Boxall and Jennifer Strang, the highly regarded GIS specialists in the GIS Centre, run the busy GIS service point in the Killam Library, at a time when we are observing increasing demand for spatial data in all disciplines at the University. Joining them are a growing number of Dal Libraries staff who will be able to provide front-line service and referrals to GIS & Data Services, from each of the Dal Libraries.

With the creation of this coordinating role under Elaine MacInnis, the Associate University Librarian, Library Services, the GIS Centre will become part of the AUL Library Services’ portfolio, moving from the AUL Research and Scholarly Communication. Thanks to Michael Moosberger, AUL Research & Scholarly Communication and University Archivist, for overseeing the GIS Centre staff and services for the past five years. Mike’s commitment to staff development, and his close communications with faculty, saw the development of a GIS Faculty Advisory Committee, new services, and a more consistent approach to annual budgeting and planning.

Congratulations to Gwen MacNairn on this new role.