The British Library is seeking a GIS consultant to investigate the
viability of a British Library GIS service operating from one of our
reading rooms. The consultancy would be for four months ending no
later than March 2000 at a salary of about £10,000.
The job description is as follows:
1. Investigate the BL's existing holdings of geo-referenced data
(whether CD-ROM or on-line) and the extent of the BL's holdings of
likely printed sources for the creation of the relevant mapping with
particular emphasis on former SRIS.
2. Advise on the likely growth of the sector over the next five years
and the likely cost assuming that (a) the data has to be acquired
commercially and (b) that the data is deposited but that the BL is
charged for access.
3. Investigate and report on the differing types of provision of GIS
within the London area and in other libraries in Britain, Europe and
throughout the world
4. Investigate the storage and archiving issues relating to GIS with
special emphasis on liaising with the BL Digital Storage Project.
5.a.Investigate the differing types of products and services that
could be offered, e.g.
(i) self-contained electronic materials such as stand-alone CD-ROMs
(ii) acquisition of sophisticated packages [GIS] with reader
self-service
(iii) curatorially assisted self-service.
(iv) full mapping service (value-added)
b.evaluate the likely demand for the differing levels of service if
they were free/charged;
c.estimate the initial cost in terms of hardware and the purchase of
software; the likely annual cost in terms of licence fees;
d.investigate the restrictions by user/use that could be imposed by
publishers/suppliers
e.advise on the staffing implications of service provision (i.e.
clerical support that would be required in addition to the GIS
specialist input; training costs; the cost in additional Reading Room
staff time;);
f.advise on the acceptable quality thresholds and degree of specialist
input required to achieve a mapping service.
5. Make recommendations on type(s) and level(s) of digital mapping
services which could be offered based on these investigations.
Depending on recommendations made, also (a) formulate a job
description for a specialist post at Grade C (which will also include
other library duties, in consultation with management (b) advise on
alternative locations outside the BL Map Library if such services are
deemed inappropriate for Map Library.
If you are interested, or have any questions, please reply to Peter
Barber.
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Peter Barber
Deputy Map Librarian
Curator of Manuscript Maps
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
Tel.: (0044) [0]171 412 7701
Fax.: (0044) [0]171 412 7780
e-mail; [log in to unmask]
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