evaluating library capacity to manage research data
DESCRIPTION
Sheila Corrall (speaker)TRANSCRIPT
Evalua&ng Library Capacity To Manage Research Data
Sheila Corrall Chair, Library & Informa4on Science Program
University of Pi<sburgh
The Context • Advances in networking
– Cyberscholarship/e-‐research/digital humani4es
• Developments in research policy – Open access and data sharing
• Calls for libraries to step up to the data challenge – Conflic4ng opinions on competence for the role
– Perfect fit, or over-‐promoted?
Libraries, Librarians, and Data . . . “Our unique exper4se in metadata, digital preserva4on, public service, and technology transla4on will serve researchers well, as will our sturdy common sense and the domain exper4se of our subject librarians.” (Salo, 2010) BUT, what about . . . technology competence? disciplinary know-‐how?
Can Libraries Cope with e-‐Science?
Assessing Library Capacity for Data
Our people are our greatest assets, but . . . we need to look beyond knowledge and skills
Libraries have other hidden Intellectual Assets
. . . embedded in our dis4nc4ve ways of working
ü Organiza1onal or Structural capital
ü Rela1onal or Network capital
What Are Intellectual Assets?
• Sources of probable future compe11ve advantage, that lack physical substance, but can be retained and “traded” by an organiza4on or service ins4tu4on
• Intellectual assets include: – human resources and capabili4es – organiza4onal or structural competencies (databases, technology, rou4nes, and culture)
– rela1onal capital: customer and supplier networks
Intellectual Assets and Value Crea0on (OECD, 2006)
Why Bother With Intellectual Assets?
• Understanding your structural and rela4onal assets helps you to realize the value of your human capital – and how they can be used to create service assets
Reveal Your Hidden Strengths!
Human Assets
Rela1onal Assets
Structural Assets
Service Assets
How Can Intellectual Assets Support Research Data Management?
• Knowledge of these hidden intangible resources – which are o^en taken for granted – will enable you to: – recognize unique and dis4nc4ve assets that make libraries stronger service organiza1ons
– iden4fy factors that are helping or hindering your efforts in the research data arena
– establish an ins1tu1onal leadership posi1on in the stewardship of research data
Where Can We Find Our Profession’s Intellectual Assets (IAs)?
Three categories of IAs or Intellectual Capital:
o Knowledge, skills, and know-‐how that staff “take with them when they leave at night” à Human Capital
o Capabili4es that stay with the firm “a^er the staff leaves at night” à Organiza1onal or Structural Capital
o External rela4ons with customers, suppliers, and R&D partners à Rela1onal Capital
? ? ? ? ? Which Human Assets Can Libraries Exploit In Research Data Management?
o experience in collec4on building
o skills in reference interviewing
o exper4se in literature searching
o knowledge of faculty research interests
o track record in service innova4on
Which Human Assets Can Libraries Use In Research Data Management?
Repurposing of library human assets
− applica4on/transfer of professional knowledge and skills to emergent areas of prac4ce
• using reference interview skills in data interviews • using exper4se in collec4ons to appraise, select, curate and manage research data sets
• using literature search know-‐how in new ways . . .
“the subject librarian… searched published literature
and other resources to select the most appropriate metadata schema.”
Purdue University Libraries (Bracke, 2011)
Exploi&ng Library Know-‐How “The informa4onists are researching
which metadata schema will work best for this project.”
U Rochester Medical Center (Hasman et al., 2013)
? ? ? ? ? Which Structural Assets Can Libraries Exploit In Research Data Management?
o subject liaison librarian system
o func4onal specialists and coordina4ng roles
o ins4tu4on-‐wide working groups
o web-‐based tools
o ins4tu4onal repositories
Which Structural Assets Can Libraries Use In Research Data Management?
Development of library structural assets
– extending and growing systems and remits
• adding data liaison to liaison librarian role • using LibGuide system to produce DataGuides
• crea4ng RDM coordina4ng groups and posi1ons
• using ins4tu4onal repositories as launchpad for data repositories
? ? ? ? ? Which Rela&onal Assets Can Libraries Exploit In Research Data Management?
o personal contacts o service reputa4on o informa4on literacy teaching collabora4ons
o digital service partnerships
o communi4es of prac4ce/interest in the profession
Which Rela&onal Assets Can Libraries Use In Research Data Management?
Exploi4ng library rela4onal assets
– taking advantage of reputa4on and goodwill • using personal contacts to recruit researchers to trial pilot data services
• building on collabora4ons to partner tech services on providing data infrastructures
• using professional networks to access exper4se and community data resources (e.g., DMP Tool)
Task Forces Rou4ne prac4ces Community toolkits Subject liaison system Func4onal coordinators Ins4tu4onal repositories
Collec4on & Service Assets Data management plans Data cita4on metrics Data repositories Data cura4on Data literacy
Transferable skills Teamwork tradi4on
Professional knowledge Mul4disciplinary exper4se Ins4tu4onal understanding
Personal contact Service reputa4on
Professional networks Librarian-‐faculty partnerships
Library-‐technology collabora4ons
Intellectual Assets Suppor&ng RDM
The Big Picture
It’s Not All Good News . . .
Some libraries have Intellectual Liabili&es
• Knowledge and skills gaps and shortages, e.g., research know-‐how
• Dysfunc1onal structures, defec4ve infrastructure, e.g., specialist silos
• Poor networking and rela1onship management, e.g., limited academic engagement
Do You Have Work To Do?
Sheila Corrall scorrall@pi<.edu
Any Ques&ons? Professional Know-‐How
Working Rela1onships Organic Structures
Networks of Collabora4on
Pushing the Boundaries
Individual and Collec4ve