News & Events

The Geospatial Map and Data Centre (GMDC) is one of the university's hidden treasures.

Located on the main floor of the Library within the Ronald D. Besse Information and Learning Commons, the GMDC provides access to a wide range of information resources for students, faculty and staff. The centre's virtual presence - the Maps and Data at Ryerson (MADAR) website - provides access to geospatial and social science data that can be applied across disciplines. Members of the Ryerson community, who include both traditional and non-traditional geographers, are taking advantage of this free service to create custom maps and perform geographic information systems (GIS) analyses with the support of the GMDC staff.

GIS and Map Librarian Dan Jakubek, Data Librarian Suzette Giles, and GIS and Data Technician Noel Damba assist undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff with course work and research that requires geographic information or social science data. Services range from assistance with data access, gathering information needed for analysis and custom sessions devoted to spatial literacy/numeracy.

"Identification of appropriate data resources is the first step. Our goal is to promote 'spatial literacy' and 'numeracy' to users who in turn, must develop skills with GIS and statistical software to present these data," Jakubek said.

The MADAR website supports three particular areas: geospatial resources - GIS for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying geographically referenced information; social science data, which provides links to Canadian sources at the federal, provincial and municipal level as well as U.S. and international statistical sources; and a collection of more than 20,000 paper maps including topographic maps of all of Canada and thematic maps of the world with an emphasis on Ontario and Toronto maps including property data, census, soil and Toronto photomaps.

Most of the data resources available through the MADAR website do not have to be accessed on site. MADAR boasts approximately 25,000 downloads per year - GMDC staff are constantly seeking new users through workshops, in-class demonstrations and the development of the RULA geospatial community, a mailing list for those interested in receiving MADAR website updates. 

Although remote access to the MADAR website is possible, the presence of a technician ensures that support is available to students and faculty in using specialized datasets and software.

"We want to appeal to everyone," Giles said. "It's not just about pretty maps. It's about the power behind the data and how to use it."

The renovation of the Ronald D. Besse Information and Learning Commons in 2004 made it possible to provide an area dedicated to the specialized collections contained in the GMDC. With the building of the Student Learning Centre, there's room for this type of service to be expanded. The Library will be a principal occupant of the new SLC and Ryerson remains committed to continuing to strengthen its resources, collections and its role in the academic community beyond its physical borders.

"As the Library expands its footprint and role, it will continue to pursue strategic relationships with the faculties and with student-related academic services. It's an area for growth for us. We want to emphasize its value in grad studies and research agendas of the university as well as with undergraduates," said Madeleine Lefebvre, chief librarian.