Though one of the newer colleagues in the University Libraries, Sam Kim is not a stranger to the University at Buffalo. His connection to UB began with earning his undergraduate degree in pharmaceutical sciences with a focus on fluorescence-based analysis at UB’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Transitioning from pharmaceuticals to the complexities of information management, Sam then pursued a graduate degree in library and information sciences with a concentration in database management and academic librarianship, from UB’s Graduate School of Education.
“I have been at UB for all levels of my education and have loved it here as a student, so I was excited by the opportunity to come back and support future generations of students and researchers,” Sam says.
Now, as the GIS and geospatial librarian on the Libraries’ Science & Engineering Library Services (SELS) team, Sam plays a crucial role in the UB community. He mainly supports faculty, staff and students by connecting users to GIS resources like ArcGIS or QGIS and providing instruction on how to locate data for use in either platform. Another key responsibility is managing UB Libraries’ extensive Map Collection, which includes tens of thousands of maps, aerial photographs, and atlases.
“Sam has been an amazing addition to SELS team,” says Erin Rowley, head of Science and Engineering Library Services. “Sam has quite a full plate –he’s a tenure-track faculty librarian, oversees the Map Collection, serves as the liaison to the Department of Geography (and interim liaison to the Department of Biological Sciences), and is also establishing GIS-related instruction services for the greater UB community. We are extremely fortunate to have Sam as part of the SELS team!”
One of the most rewarding aspects of Sam’s role is discovering unique and fascinating maps. “What I enjoy most about work is finding interesting maps that highlight features I wouldn’t consider necessary or relevant,” Sam notes. From WW II maps with special symbology for vineyards to artistic symbols for churches, each map tells a unique story. One even has a dedicated label for a chocolate factory.
Chocolate factory labelled on a town planning map of Wurzburg, Germany, 1944. The original map was adapted by Allied forces and used in their campaign in the European theater of WW II. University at Buffalo Libraries Map Collection.
Sam is currently collaborating with faculty to introduce students to mapping using local landmarks and neighborhoods, a project that blends education with real-world applications in urban planning and preservation. Outside of work, he is an avid gamer, enjoying both video games and tabletop games, and is a proud parent to two cats.
Interestingly, Sam’s background in GIS is a fusion of professional experience and personal interests. “My background in GIS comes from a mix of my professional experience working with nurses on social determinants of health and my personal interests in cartography in tabletop games,” he reveals.
With a unique blend of expertise, passion and creativity, Sam Kim is a valuable asset to the SEL team and the University at Buffalo.