Academic Data Research Services Alliance

Bridging the Gap between Data and Discovery

Beth Forrest Warner Director, Digital Library Initiatives, University of Kansas Denise Stephens Associate University Librarian for Public Services, Syracuse University

October 3, 2002

Copyright Beth Forrest Warner, and Denise Stephens,2002. This work is the intellectual property of the authors. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the authors. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.

Copyright Statement

October 3, 2002

Numeric & Spatial Data

October 3, 2002

Access to Data Resources

The “good old days”…

October 3, 2002

Access to Data Resources

Today…

October 3, 2002

KU: Some Background

KU Libraries Strategic Planning effort, Spring 2000 Resource and service support

Academic Computing Services limited technology support for data

October 3, 2002

Mutual Goal

To provide comprehensive and sustainable user services for numeric data and analytical technologies

October 3, 2002

Feasibility??

What mutual goals and/or concerns did we have as information service providers for the university?

Are similar programs present in the University environment? If so, what is the nature of these programs?

Which other university departments or programs should be involved or consulted?

How and by who would the program be authorized?

October 3, 2002

Campus Themes

Teaching faculty in the social sciences and business were the initial core prospective user group for the collaborative service.

Frustration had developed regarding the lack of an accessible body of content and analytical tools for researchers across campus.

Research agencies at the University, such as the Policy Research Institute, had expertise in complex statistical analysis and with tools, owned some content resources, but had little visibility on campus. They were also ill-prepared to provide ‘services’ to a broad and relatively novice user constituency.

There was clear agreement about the institutional need for a collaborative, accessible support service for users of numeric data and its analysis.

October 3, 2002

Moving Ahead

The Academic Data Research Services Alliance is formed!• The Libraries• Academic Computing Services• Policy Research Institute

October 3, 2002

Core Issues

What assets does each partner bring to the effort?

What are each partner’s limitations? What are the potential benefits of

participation? Who is the audience? What is the level of

interest at KU in utilizing the service? How would the division of responsibility and

effort be decided?

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Defining the Service

Determine assets Leveraging contributions

Each partner contributes what is does best…

October 3, 2002

Libraries’ Contributions

Expertise in acquiring, describing, organizing, and making available information in all formats

Collections of numeric data resources (content) from a variety of subject areas and sources

An organizational infrastructure that supports professional end-user services, desktop technology, and systematic acquisition of additional content

Access to resources and assistance regardless of departmental affiliation or status

Established liaison relationships across academic departments, as well as active outreach programs

October 3, 2002

ACS’s Contributions

Expertise in configuring and delivering information technology across the University

A well-developed technology infrastructure and IT management / planning practices

Basic support for numeric data analysis in its labs

Ready access to software and desktop technology, and server-based file storage

Established University-wide service goals

October 3, 2002

PRI’s Contributions

High-level expertise in data analysis and data structure

Collections of relevant socio-economic data

Experience in compiling data and databases to support scholarly research and publishing

October 3, 2002

Digital Library Initiatives

Launched in late 2000 Unit of Information Services division Coordination role

Libraries ACS

DLI

October 3, 2002

The DL Environment

“[…] a ‘digital library’ is not merely equivalent to a digitized collection with information management tools. It is rather an environment to bring together collections, services and people in support of the full life cycle of creation, dissemination, use, and preservation of data, information and knowledge”.

– Report of the Santa Fe Planning Workshop on Distributed Knowledge Work Environments: Digital Libraries, (1997),

http://www.si.umich.edu/SantaFe/

October 3, 2002

KU DLI Created To…

Provide a focus for digital library efforts at KU help set directions and goals

Build from a solid base of knowledge technical concepts library / information science concepts scholarly communications issues

Take a pragmatic approach balance theory with reality manage expectations

Emphasize collaborative efforts and community-building

October 3, 2002

KU DLI Areas of Focus

Enhanced presentation / navigation / resource discovery

Standards-based development Enhanced local resource management

and dissemination University participation & community-

building

October 3, 2002

Collaborative Principle

“Work on digital libraries aims to help with generating, sharing and using knowledge. It aims to improve practices of communities so they are more effective, efficient, productive and maximize the benefits of collaboration. It seeks to extend the content and utility of digital libraries to aid existing communities and to facilitate the emergence of new communities of discourse, research, and learning.”

– Report of the Santa Fe Planning Workshop on Distributed Knowledge Work Environments: Digital Libraries, (1997),

http://www.si.umich.edu/SantaFe/

October 3, 2002

Organizational Issues

Leadership roles Expertise

Collections / Content Access Strategies Technology Standards

Communication Resources (funding) Leveraging through collaboration

October 3, 2002

Operational Issues

Diversity of content Integration (formats, media, services) Rights management / copyright / licensing Granularity Evolving standards Robust infrastructure needs

Interoperability Scalability

Preservation / migration Organizational structure Collaborations

October 3, 2002

ADRSA Redefined

Coordination role of DLI formalized in January 2002

Roles and responsibilities of partners Service expansion to include spatial as

well as numeric data and services

October 3, 2002

Components & Roles

Data Access IT Infrastructure Data Analysis Data Education Service Assessment Advisory Support

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Branding & Marketing

Data Discovery Data Across the Curriculum Data Talk Faculty Advisory Board

October 3, 2002

ADRSA: Efforts to Date

Data Discovery: Identification of Data & Reference /

Advisory Services Physical Access to Data & Computing

Services Data Extraction & Analysis Services Data & Scholarly Communications

October 3, 2002

ADRSA: Efforts to Date

Data Across the Curriculum: Support of the curriculum Creation of classes & instructional aides Integration of data instruction requests with

regular instruction within the Libraries Instruction & reference tools to assist users

with basics of data identification, acquisition, and use at KU

October 3, 2002

ADRSA: Efforts to Date

Data Talk: Education, Publicity, and Marketing

ActivitiesTeaching SummitCenter for Teaching ExcellenceDepartment & classroom presentations

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ADRSA: Efforts to Date

Faculty advisory group composed of identified stakeholders

October 3, 2002

ADRSA in Perspective

Numeric and spatial data resources are created, purchased, stored, and made available to users by a wide variety of units in universities today

Significant access and resource efficiencies are not easily possible without implementing a campus-wide infrastructure for identification and sharing

October 3, 2002

ADRSA in Perspective

Facilitating the creation of shared standards and policies, and building formal relationships between units

Mechanism to leverage expertise residing in individual units into an improved service for the campus

Combined service profile has raised awareness on campus of the resources and assistance available

October 3, 2002

ADRSA in Perspective

Efforts critical in not only retaining but allowing expansion of targeted services during budget reductions

Coordination through the DLI has provided a broader context and framework for ADRSA initiatives and services; has also provided a mechanism to participate in broader campus initiatives

October 3, 2002

ADRSA Model

Libraries ACS

DLI

PRI

October 3, 2002

ADRSA Model

Bridging the gap between data and discovery!

October 3, 2002

Questions??

For additional information contact:

Beth Forrest WarnerDirector, Digital Library Initiatives, University of Kansasbwarner@ku.eduhttp://kudiglib.ku.edu

Or Visit: http://www.ku.edu/adrsa