Data Services Committee
Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 28, 2014
11:00-12:00
428 Main Library
Members:
 Merinda Hensley
 Beth Sheehan
 Karen Hogenboom, chair
 Jenny Johnson
Sarah Shreeves
 Sarah Williams
 Joanne Kazcmarek
 Christie Wiley
Dawn Owens-Nicholson
 Carissa Phillips
Maryalice Wu
1. Appoint someone to take notes – Jenny
2. Readme files: status and next steps (see spreadsheet emailed on 4/24)
The files are appearing in the Committee’s Box space. Karen’s readme file summertime goals
– talk with CMA about cataloging data using the readme files as a part of the conversation.
Text descriptions probably would be more meaningful than lines in an Excel spreadsheet.
Beth will contact Dawn to offer assistance wtiht the IRS statistics of income. Christie will do
a 2nd-level look at the HHDA and INDstat2 and 4 descriptions. Projected use of data after
requesting researcher has finished with it – teaching/classroom demonstration. The body
measurement data is AWOL – had been received on disc which is nowhere to be found.
3. Data Information Literacy workshops and libguides for fall
http://wiki.lib.purdue.edu/display/ste/Home
a. How to identify appropriate statistical methodology in your field – Karen & Christie
plus Beth and Joanne, searching article databases for methodologies, strategies for
searching for articles within specific fields, supplementing information obtained
from advisors
b. Ethical Use of Data (Ron Banks from IRB, anyone else?) – data curation,
confidentiality, IRB first contact as they might have a pre-packaged 50-minute
presentation. Standard IRB presentation could be followed up by a Library-driven
supplemental session.
c. Data Management and Organization (coordinate with Sarah S and Sarah W’s existing
workshop) – Sarah and Sarah plus Christie – focusing on keeping track of versioning,
field names, day-to-day best practices, practicalities of data management. The New
England Collaborative Data Management Curriculum (NECDMC)
(http://library.umassmed.edu/necdmc/index) has some modules already prepared
that could be checked and borrowed from.
4. Possibility of Library Marketing Grant
Discussed pros and cons of bus-based advertising. The big question needing to be answered
first is “What can be marketed?” Once that’s answered, marketing venues/opportunities
might be more evident. Data Purchase Program is easy, especially in the fall, but perhaps
not the best choice with Research Data Services ramping up. Perhaps something more
general like “The Library can help you with data…” Workshop ads were also discussed.
Amorphous marketing of services might not be effective; ads for a specific event might be
more effective. Basic issue at hand – nobody thinks of the Library when they’re thinking
about data. Need a slogan to illustrate the changing face of the Library. Karen will meet with
Heather Murphy to talk about all of this and find a direction. Someone is being hired to help
market Research Data Services. RDS and DSC are two sides of the same coin. Marketing
efforts would direct people to Scholarly Commons.
5. Committee response to Data Services Un-retreat report? (report sent with agenda on 4/24)
Un-retreat report mostly is not about data services but there might be some things to
respond to. Data Services needs to be part of the conversation, needs more outreach to
Library faculty in support of Library faculty being more involved with data. People who want
to be involved with data need to be comfortable with data. Discussed the possibility of
assigning an individual full-time to focus on data literacy instruction program. Perhaps it
would be better to pair someone with instruction expertise with subject specialists to make
sure that discipline scope is appropriately handled. Foundation information on data literacy
through Savvy Researcher offerings. The question was raised about how many subject
specialists are teaching data literacy right now – probably none. So, a full-time person
devoted to data literacy instruction – probably not a good idea. Need to develop
collaboratively out of the disciplines; DSC could assist with the basics. There seems to be
the perception that space is not available for this kind of activity because of heavy use of
spaces, in particular 314 Library. 314 is used – but not booked solid. 509 ACES is another
possibility – would need to see what software is available and have machines appropriately
imaged. Specific responses to some of the report are needed – Goal 3, page 1 – “To make
data more readily discoverable, accessible, & useful…..” – DSC has been working on this and
needs to respond. Karen will draft and send to the committee for comments.
6. Announcements
a. Update on 2013 data purchases
One of the companies that data had been purchase from before has been bought by
a holding company and has a completely new legal process. Lynn Wiley has been
working on this and is close to a resolution
b. Other?
Karen and MaryAlice went to University of Chicago to present about partnering on
data services.
James Whitacre, incoming GIS Specialist, should be on DSC because of data
instruction role.