This document provides an overview of strategies and resources for assisting patrons with data reference questions. It discusses John Snow's 1854 cholera map, examples of common data reference questions, and a five question framework for the data reference interview process. This includes determining the type of data needed, relevant variables and populations, geographic and time frame requirements, and data access and use conditions. Government agencies, data portals, and statistical resources are presented. Tips are offered for pairing with another librarian to practice sample questions using the interview framework.

1. Lynda Kellam
Data Services & Gov Info Librarian
UNCG
11/03/2016

3. • John Snow (not
that John Snow)
• 1854 cholera map
• The Ghost Map
Image in public domain:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F
ile:Snow-cholera-map-1.jpg

4. Hans Rosling’s 200 Countries,
200 Years, 4 Minutes

5.  What is the educational attainment level of Hispanic women in
Greensboro?
 What languages do the people in my community speak at home?
 Which schools in Forsyth, Guilford, & Randolph counties have the
highest percentage of Latino students?
 How many people are divorced each year?
 What is the relationship between crime and socioeconomic factors in
New Orleans?
 What is the average size of households living in rental properties?

8. The “who cares” question

9. The “who cares” question
What government agency, educational institution,
or other organization would want to collect this
data?

10. The “who cares” question
What government agency, educational institution,
or other organization would want to collect this
data?
Not sure? Do a literature search

11. The “who cares” question
What government agency, educational institution,
or other organization would want to collect this
data?
Not sure? Do a literature search
Government statistical agencies

12. The “who cares” question
What government agency, educational institution,
or other organization would want to collect this
data?
Not sure? Do a literature search
Government statistical agencies
Data.gov

13. The “who cares” question
What government agency, educational institution,
or other organization would want to collect this
data?
Not sure? Do a literature search
Government statistical agencies
Data.gov
Statistical Abstract of the United States (new and old)

19. What type of data source are they
looking for?

22. What type of data source are they
looking for?
What indicators or variables do they
need?

23.  What type of data source are they
looking for?
 What indicators or variables do they
need?
 What populations are they examining?

25. What is the time frame of the request?

26. What is the time frame of the request?
Is the time frame realistic?

27. What is the time frame of the request?
Is the time frame realistic?
What is the periodicity for collection
(quarterly, annually, every decade, or
infrequently)?

29. What geographic areas are realistically
available?

30. What geographic areas are realistically
available?
What are the other possible geographies
if the desired area is not available?

34. Are the data sets freely available or do they
require an application or fee?

35. Are the data sets freely available or do they
require an application or fee?
What are the limitations on the use of the
data?

36. Are the data sets freely available or do they
require an application or fee?
What are the limitations on the use of the
data?
How was the data collected?

38. Pair up and read a sample question.
Using the five data reference interview questions,
what information do you have and what
information would you need to help the patron?
What questions would you ask the patron?

39.  What is the educational attainment level of Hispanic women in
Greensboro?
 What languages do the people in my community speak at home?
 Which schools in Forsyth, Guilford, & Randolph counties have the
highest percentage of Latino students?
 How many people are divorced each year?
 What is the relationship between crime and socioeconomic factors in
New Orleans?
 What is the average size of households living in rental properties?

40.  Kristin Partlo’s Data Reference Worksheet
 Partlo, Kristin. 2009. "The Pedagogical Data
Reference Interview." IASSIST Quarterly 33 (4):6-
10.
http://www.iassistdata.org/sites/default/files/iqvol3
34_341partlo.pdf

41. American FactFinder
SimplyMap or Social Explorer
World Development Indicators
Roper Center
Data on the Run Compendium
UNC GIS & Data Services
UNCG Finding Data Guide

42.  IASSIST – international organization for data professionals; primarily social
sciences but open to all
 Research Data Alliance – international organization; primarily data
management and science librarianship
 ICPSR boot camps
 Databrarians.org
 ACRL data groups
 NCLA GRS webinar series, “Help! I’m an Accidental Government
Information Librarian”
 Numeric Data Services and Sources for the General Reference Librarian
 Databrarianship: The Academic Data Librarian in Theory and Practice
 Data Information Literacy

43. Lynda Kellam
lmkellam@uncg.edu
@lyndamk