A Proposed Plan for Mapping Library Collection through GIS: a Case Study of The Central Library of Tehran University

Considering the library users’ difficulty in searching and finding the location of the available sources in the library and their lack of familiarity with the ranking systems، the current study was conducted primarily to propose a model of mapping library collection through geographical information system (GIS)، and، secondarily، to implement it in mapping library collection at the shelf level. The methodology of the study included a combination of descriptive-analytic and designing system methods. To collect the required data، descriptive-analytic method was used. In order to implement and feed the data، ArcGIS was utilized and for data analysis and presenting the results through the maps of the library floors، the designing system method was applied. The spatial database was designed by means of the sources and the building map of the central library of Tehran University as the case under investigation in the present study. The results revealed that while searching for the source in the created spatial database، the location of the searched sources can be observed on the map of the library floors at the level of the floor، the section، and the shelf. Finally، the findings contributed to proposing a model of mapping library collection through GIS and codifying it based on the practical realities of several research centers. Applying this model would hopefully allow the users to precisely locate the library sources and، thereby، to save their time. Moreover، the users can find access to different forms of the sources located in different parts of the library.