My interests are:

  1. GIS & spatial analysis
  2. Internet mapping (ArcIMS, MapServer) and web map services
  3. Demographic & socio-economic data analysis
  4. Housing data analysis (local real property, assisted housing, HMDA, census housing data)
  5. Crime data analysis
  6. Migration data analysis
  7. Transportation planning & commuting pattern data analysis
  8. Epidemiological data analysis
  9. Census PUMS data analysis
  10. Local history & genealogical research
  11. Digital data management, access & ownership rights
  12. Historical maps

Maps & State Documents Librarian: Chieko Maene
email: c-maene

I have been the Maps (and GIS) and State Documents Librarian at the Northwestern Univesity Library since May, 2007. I previously worked as a Map Librarian for two years (May 2005 - May 2007) in the Government Documents, Maps and Microforms Department of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Library. I also worked as an Interim GIS Librarian for one year (May 2004 - May 2005) at the American Geographical Society Library of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Libraries in Milwaukee, WI, where I earned my Master's degree in Urban Studies (MS, 1999-2001) and also a Master's degree in Library Information Science (MLIS, 2001-2003).

My original intention was to graduate with one Master's degree and go back to Tokyo, Japan, where I came from in 1999. BUT, I was hooked on GIS (Geographic Information System) software when a Professor, Dr. Michael Barndt, introduced us to the unique geospatial technology in the first graduate class that I took (Social Science Research Methods) at the UW-Miwalukee. After that, I purchased the software at a student discount price from ESRI ($250.00), worked with the professor at the Data Center of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee as a non-paid intern (and as a paid intern later), took several GIS courses, basic computer languages courses and a database management course at the school, and continued to learn GIS technology and methods throughout my graduate studies.

At the same time, I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful opportunity to work for Dr. Margo Anderson for her projects on Japanese Americans, census history and statistical analysis as her RA (research assistant) for two years (1999-2001), and became passionate about the U.S. Census history and various research datasets. She also encouraged me to learn GIS and explore its use in the historical research context, such as using historical census information and local property listing information in GIS.

Another experience that I would like to note is my work as a research technician at the Center for Economic Development of the UW-Milwaukee, where I had opportunities to learn various different datasets and then process them to generate statistical reports and maps to support academic research at the Center (2002-2004).

After my RA-ship, I had a chance to work for a Digital Spatial Data Librarian of the AGS Library, Ms. (and soon, Dr.!) Patti Day, who had helped me in obtaining various GIS data for my graduate work earlier. The work at a map library finally led me to consider a job as a GIS/map librarian and I decided to enroll in the library school for another Master's degree. I also want to thank to Ms. Stephanie Judge, then a Government Document Librarian of the UWM Libraries, for her generous support when I was a graduate school student.

Last updated: September 27, 2007