The Library as Partner in University Data Curation

Transcription

1 The Library as Partner in University Data Curation A Case Study in Collaboration Bethany Latham & Jodi Poe

2 Data Curation & Librarians Issues in data curation Appraising/selecting data, determining length of retention, creating metadata, preservation, applying standards, ensuring intellectual property and other rights are respected Librarians skill set Selectors, organizers, facilitators of access, and preservers of information

3 Data Life Cycles Creation Use Analysis Storage Preservation (Migration) Destruction

4 Roles & Responsibilities Potential responsible entities Libraries Individual university colleges, departments & offices Information technology divisions Outside data management firms Or a combination of these?

5 Potential benefits Collaboration Increased awareness Enhanced usage Greater support Expansion Development of relationships Pooling of resources Shared expertise

6 Institutional Data Creation Internal use Student records Personnel records Budgeting and financial data External use Statistics Curricula information Accreditation info Marketing publications

7 Evolving Collections Yearbooks Photographs Academic calendars Student essays & other literature Transition from print to digital Photographs Photojournalism, landscapes, fine art, and graphic design Academic, social, athletic, and other events Portraiture University architecture

8 Necessity of Curation The data these collections contain makes up a university s historical tapestry one that will unravel without proper curation.

9 JSU At-A-Glance The University Regional teaching, research & service university Circa 8,000 FTE 460-acre campus The Library Circa 760,000 titles 13-story building arranged by subject floors Closed stacks special collections

10 The Collections: Yearbooks Began publication in 1926 as the Teacoala No volumes for When publication resumed, title changed to Mimosa Publication slated to go digital Library s collection incomplete

11 The Collections: Photos Library Photo Collection Printed photographs Obtained from inside and outside the university Photographic Services Collection 35,000 negatives, some prints From 1930s to 1999 Primarily medium-format Rapidly deteriorating

12 The First Step: Communication They need Time Personnel They have Raw tangible materials Hardware Software Data storage Some archival storage for tangible materials

13 The First Step: Communication We need Hardware Software Data storage We have Some raw tangible materials Personnel Time Storage space

14 The Next Step: Collaboration Receptivity Transfer of tangible items for digitization Transfer of hardware and software Creation of an digital repository for this historical information

15 Issues Encountered Software/interface configuration and updates Addressing authority control Development of effective metadata Showcasing digital objects

16 Added Value Enhanced metadata Corrected OCR Public access Governance and other policies Mining the collective knowledgebase

17 Real Benefits of Collaboration Shared resources make impossible projects possible Intellectual exchange & professional development Eliminates duplication of effort Promotion and increased visibility for both collections and the library itself Increases buy-in for all involved

18 Moving Forward Awareness Proactivity & communication Building relationships Past projects as proof-of-concept Foster interoperability

19 Questions? Bethany Latham Jodi Poe