Prior to the automation of library catalogs, searching by geographic coordinates was conducted using index maps. The Library of Congress has recently made it a requirement to include geographic coordinates in library catalog records despite the inability of many automated catalogs to search for coordinates. However, emerging technologies can make the addition of geographic coordinate data useful and enhance the ability to access geographic information via different arenas outside the library. One of the most useful applications of geographic coordinates in library catalog records is the ability to create a geographic search interface.

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The geospatial Semantic Web's primary use to date has been the creation of map mashups, collaborative mapping projects, and other research functions. The power of the geospatial Semantic Web can also be harnessed for the development of place-based access points to further the use of information collections-digital and print. Creating a geographic search interface for information collections allows users to search by location. The basic principles of linked data, describing entities using unique identifiers and providing links between related objects, tie into the desire for libraries to link their own digital resources with related materials held by other cultural institutions that publish content on the Web. This article will provide an overview of linked data principles, discuss the benefits and challenges of providing geographic information in metadata records, and provide examples of how location-based searches are valuable to users, and offer opportunities for future research.

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