The document discusses the strategic support for building data science skills at Harvard Library, emphasizing the collaborative efforts in data management and consultation services across various departments. It highlights the local data services available, partnerships with research computing, and the importance of educational initiatives like workshops to enhance data skills among library staff and users. Additionally, it outlines the challenges of balancing high-quality support with in-depth consultations in the academic library context.

1. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Collaboratively Build Data
Science Services and Skills
Building Data Science Skills: Strategic Support for the Work, Part Two
NISO Webinar March 18, 2020
Julie Goldman, Research Data Services Librarian
julie_goldman@harvard.edu | @jgolds2

2. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
About Me -- Julie Goldman, MLIS
BACKGROUND
BS Marine Biology, UNH
MLIS, Simmons University
Library Fellow, UMass Medical
eScience Coordinator, NNLM NER
Data Services Librarian, Harvard
Data Science Certificate, edX
DATA SERVICES
● Consultations
● Teaching and Training
● Resource Development
● Embedded Services
● Carpentries Instructor
● Journal Managing Editor

3. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Can academic libraries balance high quality,
campus-level support in data science with
in-depth consultation services that require
considerable time and expertise?
Slide courtesy of Jeffrey C. Oliver, University of Arizona Libraries & Christopher Erdmann, University of North Carolina

4. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Can academic libraries balance high quality,
campus-level support in data science with
in-depth consultation services that require
considerable time and expertise?
Slide courtesy of Jeffrey C. Oliver, University of Arizona Libraries & Christopher Erdmann, University of North Carolina

5. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Harvard Library
● Umbrella organization for Harvard’s
libraries, archives, and shared services
● Highly decentralized
● 70+ libraries and archives
● Supporting 11 schools & institutes
● 750+ staff
● 36,000 students
● 13,000 academic staff

6. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Local Data Services at Harvard Libraries
CONSULTATION
1:1 and small group
consultation with
users on data-related
topics. Includes
support queries.
● Duration &
engagement
mode varies
INSTRUCTION
1:1 and small group
training on
data-related topics or
resources.
● Includes tutorials
and formal
instruction
SPECIALTY
Work performed on
behalf of client that
requires specific
data-related skills.
● May require user
funding
● Requires special
knowledge/skills

7. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Data Services Details
Source: Staff Development at Harvard Library - Recommendations for Supporting Strategic Initiatives (2018-11)
27 library
units
surveyed
about their
current and
future data
services
plans

8. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Data Services Across the Lifecycle
Archival processing
& appraisal
Digital preservation
and stewardship
services
Digital preservation
and stewardship
ARCHIVE
Data repository
administration
Referrals to
specialized subject
data repositories
Data sharing and
publishing training
(e.g. DOIs, data
citations)
Data use agreements
(DUAs)
SHARING
Referrals to IT,
Research Computing,
and research support
services
Promotion of
research support
services
Comparisons of data
cleaning, analysis &
visualization tools
ANALYZE
Electronic lab
notebook support
Metadata and data
documentation
services
File organization and
asset management
training
STORAGE
Data Management
Plans (DMPs)
consultation, review,
training
Referrals to IT &
Research Computing
Navigation of
institutional RDM
services and
resources
PLANNING
Locate data for new
project/data
discovery
Best practices for
data reuse training
RDM lifecycle
training
REUSE

9. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Network of Partners in Data Services
● University Information Technology
(HUIT)
● Library Technology Services (LTS)
● Faculty of Arts & Sciences Research
Computing (FAS-RC)
● Institute for Quantitative Social
Sciences (IQSS)
● Office of the Vice-Provost for Research
● Offices of Sponsored Research (2)

10. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Cross-Harvard Working Groups to
Foster Collaboration
HARVARD RDM SUPPORT
● Harvard Library
● Harvard Business School
○ Research Computing
● Chan School of Public Health
○ Office of Research Strategy and
Development, Bioinformatics Core
● Harvard Medical School
○ Library, IT, Office of the Dean
● Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences
● Office of the Vice-Provost for Research
ADDITIONAL WORKING GROUPS
● Electronic Lab Notebooks
● Data Use Agreements Operations
● Data Safety and Security

11. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Local Data Services
● Digital Repositories & Manuscript Submission
● NIH Public Access Policy Compliance
● Copyright & Fair Use
● Author Profiles & CV
● Research Data Management & Data Sharing
● Online Collaboration Tools
● Bioinformatics
● Research Assessment & Impact Metrics
● Scholarly Publishing & Manuscript Preparation

12. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
protocols.io
● For reproducibility, we need
the methods behind the data
● Making it easy to share
method details before,
during and after publication
● Need to put an effort into
writing the recipe in a way
others can follow & use
New in 2020: Countway Library
supports free Premium accounts for
Harvard Medical School, Harvard School
of Dental Medicine and Harvard T.H.
Chan School of Public Health users!

13. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Data Management Working Group
Representation of a variety of expertise: management
of high-throughput screening and image data,
information technology and research computing,
educational programming, and library sciences.
Subgroups tackle distinct projects and goals:
● Offer a variety of educational opportunities
● Develop resources reflecting current RDM approaches
● Aggregate Harvard Medical School resources
● Provide a forum for questions and feedback from the
research community
datamanagement.hms.harvard.edu

14. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Can academic libraries balance high quality,
campus-level support in data science with
in-depth consultation services that require
considerable time and expertise?
Slide courtesy of Jeffrey C. Oliver, University of Arizona Libraries & Christopher Erdmann, University of North Carolina

15. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Data Science Support
WHO & WHAT
● Research Computing
● Information Technology
● Bioinformatics Groups
● Library
WHY & WHERE
● Supplementing what’s there
● Spread best practices
● Meet people where they are
● Virtual and open educational
resources

16. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Non-profit
organization and
international
community of
volunteers
that develop
lessons, train
instructors,
and organize
workshops
in data
management
and software
development
best practices
for and by
researchers and
librarians across
disciplines
The Carpentries

17. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
New England Software Carpentry
Library Consortium
● Member institutions share a Gold-level
Carpentries membership
○ Financial commitment: Cost of shared
Carpentry membership plus training
expenses
○ Year 1 & 2: 15 instructors certified
($1,000/person)
○ Year 3: 22 instructors ($800/person)
● 6 free coordinated workshops and 50%
discount for additional workshops
● No charge for self-organized workshops
https://nesclic.github.io

18. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program

19. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
NESCLiC by the Numbers
Instructors Institutions
Software
Carpentry
Workshops
Data
Carpentry
Library
Carpentry

20. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
NESCLiC Workshops
● Weekend workshops
○ Solve the "two days in a row" issue
● Price models
○ Work with an established organization to handle money (NEASIST)
● Campus partners
○ Find a group with a budget who can pay for lunch, coffee, etc.
● Manager nominations
○ Identified staff build skills that complement their current work
● Instructor experience
○ “Trade” instructors around NE or find local experts

21. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Harvard NESCLiC Membership
WORKSHOPS
● Manager Nominations
● Library Carpentry (21)
○ Co-sponsored with Digital
Scholarship Support Group
○ January 2019
● Data Carpentry (8)
○ October 2019
INSTRUCTORS
● 3 Cohorts 2018-2020
● Harvard Library (1)
○ Graduate School of Design (1)
○ Digital Strategies & Innovation (2)
● Harvard Medical School
○ Center for History of Medicine (1)
○ Research Computing (1)

22. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
I thought that the structure of most of the LC
lesson plans was very useful. They started
with the simplest concept & then built up
from there. They were structured well both
for initial learning and for ongoing practice.
ー Participant, January 15-16, 2019,
Library Carpentry Workshop, Harvard Library
“

23. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Excellent workshop. Extremely relevant for
anyone who deals in any way with managing
spreadsheets and data. Lots of good, practical
information.
ー Participant, January 15-16, 2019,
Library Carpentry Workshop, Harvard Library
“

24. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
NESCLiC Lessons Learned
● Membership contract with the Carpentries
● Accurately and persuasively communicate the value of the
Carpentries and the Consortium to our administrators
● Workshop organization, logistics and teaching

25. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
NESCLiC Unexpected Benefits
● Not just instructor training
● Expanded local network
● Collaboration with other organizations
● Develop instructional materials
● Changing roles within the library

26. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
NESCLiC Future Plans
● Instructor Trainer training
● Custom workshops for campus departments and groups
● Conference workshops
● As long as there are enough people interested, NESCLiC
will be an option for libraries to get involved in the
Carpentries!

27. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
The Case of the Consortium
● Leverage the expertise of
libraries
● Stability of trained staff
instructors
● Meet the needs of our
communities
● Well established in the region
& continues to further
collaboration
● Other Regions:
○ Great Plains Network
○ New Mexico
Cyberinfrastructure Training
○ New York Data Carpentries
Library Consortium
○ Project to develop the
Carpentries community in
academic libraries across
California

28. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Read More About NESCLiC
Read about us in JeSLIB!
“This article describes both the successes and
challenges of forming this new consortium, suggests
good practices for those who might wish to form
similar collaborations, and discusses the future of this
program and other efforts to help researchers improve
their computing and data handling skills.”
https://doi.org/10.7191/jeslib.2019.1161

29. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Can academic libraries balance high quality,
campus-level support in data science with
in-depth consultation services that require
considerable time and expertise?
Slide courtesy of Jeffrey C. Oliver, University of Arizona Libraries & Christopher Erdmann, University of North Carolina

30. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program

31. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Competencies
● Data Skills
● Computational Skills
● Research and subject knowledge
● Traditional library skills
● Developing programs and services
● Interpersonal
● Lifelong learning https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/uycax

32. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Closing Advice
1. LEAD BY EXAMPLE
● If you do cool things, they will come
2. BE OK WITH REJECTION
● “That’s not what libraries do.”
3. RUN / PLAN / HOST WORKSHOPS
● Build skills and find partners!
LEAD BY
EXAMPLE

33. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Closing Advice
1. GET TO KNOW YOUR CAMPUS
● Who is your target audience?
● What resources are already available on campus?
● Develop partnerships!
2. FILL IN GAPS IN SERVICE
● What value can you add to your institution?
● Know your limits!
3. KEEP AN OPEN MIND
● Unexpected opportunities can be fruitful

34. LIBRARY.HARVARD.EDU
@HarvardLibrary Research Data Management Program
Questions?
Building Data Science Skills: Strategic Support for the Work, Part Two
NISO Webinar March 18, 2020
Julie Goldman, Research Data Services Librarian
julie_goldman@harvard.edu | @jgolds2