The DLI Community

Where in the world are data professionals?

DLI Orientation Workshop

Queen’s University, Kingston

April 5, 2004

The Academic CommunityData professionals are an important

part of the academic community

That encompasses our own institutions, those of our region, the nation and the international academic community

The Local CommunityA data service includes:

A reference serviceA research resourceA consultative functionAn educational asset

The Local CommunityA data service may be:

A stand-alone servicePart of general referencePart of a specialized service (eg.

MADGIC – maps, data and documents)Part of the computing servicesAn adjunct of a research operation

Local Community Models may be:

One person with multiple responsibilities A one-person data shop A multi-person operation within a single department An interdepartmental resource

Levels of service will depend on the model

Whatever the model, data professionals often feel isolated

Regional Community

All regions (except Ontario) have a regional data groupWest – ACCOLEDSQuebec – CREPUQAtlantic Canada – part of APLA

Ontario – may be coming soonDINO

National Community

Data Liberation

Community through training

Community through dlilist

Community through cooperative projects

National CommunityCAPDU

A group representing data professionals, data producers, data providers and data users

Founded by data professionals in response to access problems

Is responsible for many of the gains made in data availability

International Community: IASSIST

“An international organization of professionals working in and with information technology and data services to support research and teaching in the social sciences.”

Membership is largely European and North American, with some representation from Australia, Africa and Asia

International Community:IASSIST

Annual conference is the most important international meeting of data professionals

On the cutting edge of new developments in data access

Based on model of co-operation and sharing of ideas and expertise

A family affair

International Community:ICPSR

World’s largest data co-operative 500+ universities world-wide

29 in Canada in 2 FederationsWorld-renown summer programme

in quantitative analysesOne-week summer programme for

data specialists

The Data Community

Local, regional, national and international communities provide a network of colleagues whose goal is to see you succeed

Don’t be afraid to use their expertise