Data Services at a Liberal Arts College Library
- 1. Data Services at a Liberal Arts College Library Julie Judkins
- 2. Common types of academic research data Observational: captured in real time survey data, telemetry Experimental: captured with lab equipment gene sequences Simulation: data is input to create a model climate or economic models Derived or compiled: drawn from many sources text and data mining Credit: MIT Libraries
- 3. Goals of Data Management To organize data To store and backup data To preserve data over time To share data with colleagues Credit: MIT Libraries
- 4. Why are data services needed? Unprecedented amounts of data & improving ability to process it Evolution of research practices Federal mandates
- 5. Unprecedented amounts of data & improving ability to process it “Just as the telescope enabled us to comprehend the universe and the microscope allowed us to understand germs, the new techniques for collecting and analyzing huge bodies of data will help us make sense of our world in ways we are just starting to appreciate.” - Mayer-Schönberger and Cukier 2013
- 6. Changes in research practices Research is increasingly more: Collaborative Data-intensive Computational Researchers are interested in datasets but aren’t sure where to find them
- 7. Federal Mandates January 18, 2011: all NSF proposals must include a Data Management Plan (DMP), not to exceed two pages March 29, 2012: White House announces “Big Data Initiative” with $200 million in research and development February 22, 2013: Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) directs agencies to provide public access to all federally funded research by August 2013 May 9, 2013: President Obama signs open data executive order
- 8. Data Services at a Liberal Arts College Successful implementation at comparable institutions Small size facilitates: collaboration embedded librarianship ability to foster projects across disciplines and longitudinally Significant research to contribute Partnerships Flickr:WillametteBiology
- 9. Value for the library “…the library is a fountain of knowledge whose potential has not yet been fully tapped. Data curation is an avenue to demonstrate how integral the library can be in the research process.” Scaramozzino, Ramirez, and McGaughey 2012 Flickr:Almost-Normal
- 10. Value for Students Improved ability to perform research assistant duties Confidence when completing projects More competitive as graduate school applicants and within the job market Foster additive collaboration across generations Flickr:Lewis&ClarkCollege
- 11. Value for Faculty Help through stressful grant process Troubleshooting Provide training for necessary additional skills Increased citation, leading to greater visibility for researcher’s work and enhanced reputation for College or University ReedMagazine
- 12. Immediate Steps Outreach and Education LibGuide blog entries videos/webinars Needs Assessment Data Reference at point of need Building partnerships
- 13. Long-term • Improve existing services in response to feedback and formal assessment • Expand collaborations and partnerships • Add educational components? • Create physical space to support data services? • DASIL: Data Analysis and Social Inquiry Lab (Grinnell) • DataStudio and Learning Lab (CalPoly) • Integrate data services with Senior Thesis • Advocacy
- 14. Recommended Resources Carlson, Jake R. (2011). "Demystifying the Data Interview: Developing a Foundation for Reference Librarians to Talk with Researchers about their Data.” Libraries Research Publications. Paper 153. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/lib_research/153 Goldstein, Sarah and Sarah K. Oelker (2011). "Planning for Data Curation in the Small Liberal Arts College Environment," Sci-Tech News: Vol. 65: Iss. 3, Article 4. http://jdc.jefferson.edu/scitechnews/vol65/iss3/4 Mayer-Schönberger, Viktor and Kenneth Cukier (2013). Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think. MIT Libraries. “Managing Research Data 101.” http://bit.ly/15gxUBu Scaramozzino, Jeanine, Marisa L. Ramírez, and Karen J. McGaughey (2012). “A Study of Faculty Data Curation Behaviors and Attitudes at a Teaching-Centered University.” College & Research Libraries. 73:349-365 Shorish, Yasmeen (2012). “Data Curation Is for Everyone! The Case for Master’s and Baccalaureate Institutional Engagement with Data Curation.” Journal of Web Librarianship. 6:4, 263-273, DOI: 10.1080/19322909.2012.729394 Tenopir, Carol, Ben Birch, and Suzie Allard (2012). “Academic Libraries and Research Data Services, Current Practices and Plan for the Future.” Association of College & Research Libraries.