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.