Month: March 2014

Issues in Data Management

Data Management Circuit Board Image
How are you saving your data?

Data Management has been a hot topic for several years. Many people have written about self-motivated archiving versus mandated arching. A significant issue is that of cost, who is going to foot the bill for storing and maintaining all this data that we so blithely generate?

Librarians and information technology professionals have collaborated with researchers to build and maintain domain and institutional repositories, making them the perfect people to provide consultation on the creation of data management plans.

Free Resources:

Data Management libraries web page This is the webpage we provide for researchers who are looking for information on creating data mangement plans. (Please note some of this information is specific to my university.)

Data Management LibGuide This guide provides detailed explanations about many data management terms and issues. It also provides links to many other resources on data management and curation.?(Please note some of this information is specific to my university.)

Suddenly I’m consulting on data management plans Handout This handout was created for a short SLA webcast where I was asked to briefly go over everything you need to know to consult on data management plans. This checklist was created to help consultants ensure that they’ve checked all their bases when offering a consultation.

FigShare is good option for researchers who do not have an institutional or domain repository and need somewhere to put their data. It is securely backed up and researchers can determine when and how much of their data is shared on an item by item basis.

Professional Development
Together with my colleague Dee Ann Allison I am co-teaching two ACRL eLearning events focused on data management plans.

What You Need to Know about Writing Data Management Plans (April 7-25, 2014)
This course teaches participants about the elements of a successful data management plan, and provides practice critiquing data management plans in a supportive learning environment where no grant funding is at stake.? Join two experienced data management plan consultants with experience in liaison librarianship and information technology as they demonstrate how all librarians have the ability to successfully consult on data management plan.

An Introduction to Data Management Plans (May 27, 2014)
Examine the elements of a data management plan, learning about data repository and preservation options, discuss the pros and cons of providing boilerplate language to researchers, and learn about tips and tricks for dealing with unique data management issues.

Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce Call for Applications Deadline April 28

2010 ARL Leadership Symposium

Below is the call for applicants for ARL’s IRDW. I highly recommend that you apply if you are eligible. You can read about my experiences with IRDW and feel free to ask me questions about my experiences with the program.

ARL is accepting applications for the Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce (IRDW), a program designed to recruit master of library and information science (MLIS) students from traditionally underrepresented ethnic and racial minority groups into careers in research libraries and archives. The IRDW includes a stipend in support of MLIS education of up to $10,000 over two years, leadership and career development training, a site visit to the Purdue University Libraries, financial support for skills development, and a formal mentorship program.

The IRDW is funded by ARL member libraries. This program reflects the commitment of ARL members to create a diverse research library workforce that will better meet the challenges of changing demographics in higher education and the emphasis of global perspectives in the academy.

Program Goal and Objectives

The ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce seeks to:

  • Attract MLIS students from underrepresented groups to careers in research libraries and archives
  • Strengthen participants’ leadership and job searching skills via a Leadership Symposium held during the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting
  • Develop a network of peers and mentors who will guide and nurture the career development of the participants

Candidates from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Applicant Criteria

Successful applicants will meet the following criteria:

  • Identify as an underrepresented racial or ethnic minority, based on the categories outlined by the US Census Bureau or Statistics Canada
  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of the US, Canada, or Puerto Rico
  • Be accepted into an ALA-accredited MLIS program
  • Have a strong interest in pursuing a career in a research library or archive

To Apply

All applicants are required to submit the following materials by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 28, 2014:

  • Online application form
  • Resume
  • A 400-word (maximum) essay describing what attracts you to a career in a research library
  • Two letters of reference
  • Official undergraduate and graduate school transcripts including your last academic semester completed
  • Copy of an official letter of acceptance from an ALA-accredited library/information science program

For more information about the program, visit the IRDW website.

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 125 research libraries in the US and Canada. ARL’s mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries, providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and expertise, facilitating the emergence of new roles for research libraries, and shaping a future environment that leverages its interests with those of allied organizations. ARL is on the web at http://www.arl.org/.