The Data Librarian’s Handbook

by Robin Rice, John Southall

The importance of data has never been greater. There has been a growing concern with the 'skills gap' required to exploit the data surfeit; the ability to collect, compute and crunch data, for economic, social and scientific purposes. This book, written by two working data librarians based at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh aims to help fill this skills gap by providing a nuts and bolts guide to research data support. The Data Librarian's Handbook draws on a combination of over 30 years' experience providing data support services to create the 'must-read' book for all entrants to this field. This book 'zooms in' to the actual library service level, where the interaction between the researcher and the librarian takes place. Both engaging and practical, this book draws the reader in through story-telling and suggested activities, linking concepts from one chapter to another. This book is for the practising data librarian, possibly new in their post with little experience of providing data support. It is also for managers and policy-makers, public service librarians, research data management "coordinators" and data support staff.0It will also appeal to students and lecturers in iSchools and other library and information degree programmes where academic research support is taught.

Genres: Library Science

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2016

Reviews

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful book about research data management, geared towards a professional audience. It's not really a technical manual for any area of the work, but more of a guide about different areas of labor in this rapidly changing profession, especially strategies for developing a research data management program and data center at your institution and the history/future directions of the field. As a metadata librarian and data manager who is working on developing my institution's RDM capabilities in our repository, I found it to be a great read. Many actionable suggestions about workshops to offer, communication strategies for working with faculty and administrators, and organizations to turn to for resources. Written in accessible language, but assumes familiarity with many concepts.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a liaison librarian newly tasked with developing data management services in my library, I found this book tremendously informative and reassuring, with many practical tools and resources that I'll be able to use in my work.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good basic textbook for someone in library school or who finds themself taking on data librarian duties, but it was TOO basic for my needs.