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CALGARY, DECEMBER 2003

Data Liberation Initiative. U P L O A D S. R E L O A D S. D O W N L O A D S. D L I UPDATE 2 0 0 3. CALGARY, DECEMBER 2003. Data Liberation Initiative. DLI NATIONAL TRAINING DAY. In June a DLI National Training Day was held in Ottawa in conjunction with CAPDU and IASSIST

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CALGARY, DECEMBER 2003

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  1. Data Liberation Initiative U P L O A D S R E L O A D S D O W N L O A D S D L I UPDATE 2 0 0 3 CALGARY, DECEMBER 2003

  2. Data Liberation Initiative DLI NATIONAL TRAINING DAY • In June a DLI National Training Day was held in Ottawa in conjunction with CAPDU and IASSIST • DLI provided financial assistance to help members from DLI institutions to attend • About 50% of DLI institutions sent at least one person – some sent more • All regions were represented

  3. Data Liberation Initiative DLI NATIONAL TRAINING DAY • Sessions were held in English and French • From feedback received this national workshop can be considered as a great success • We will probably do this again in the future • More about this when Sage presents the report from the National Education Committee

  4. Data Liberation Initiative DLI NATIONAL TRAINING DAY • Some important aspects of this workshop include: • Members from different regions were able to meet and mix with members from other regions • They were able to see that somewhere someone else was at the same level of data/statistical literacy with the same problems as them • As well, a number of DLI members stayed on to attend IASSIST – some for the first time

  5. Data Liberation Initiative DLI NATIONAL TRAINING DAY • Chad Gadfield, Director of the Institute of Canadian Studies, University of Ottawa held a reception for CAPDU/DLI members

  6. Data Liberation Initiative DLI FINANCIAL SITUATION • As mentioned last year, we began our new invoicing procedures whereby all members receive their invoice during April – May • This change over went very smoothly with very few concerns expressed • This will help us better monitor our financial situation

  7. Data Liberation Initiative DLI FINANCIAL SITUATION • The last financial review was done for the October EAC meeting. • At that time it was reported that the program is in a better financial situation that was suspected 18 – 20 months ago • Unless something drastic occurs there should no need to increase revenues (i.e. member fees) for at least another 24 months

  8. Data Liberation Initiative DLI COLLECTION • We have continued to add files to our Collection • We now have over close to 20,000 files in the Collection – includes data and metadata • Over the past year we have added numerous Census files

  9. Data Liberation Initiative DLI COLLECTION • We add the Census files as soon as we get them, however this is not always as fast as some of our members would like • We have to wait our turn for Census to produce our files via special runs • Some of the tables we are supposed to receive are quite large and take a long time to produce

  10. Data Liberation Initiative DLI COLLECTION • In 2002 the number of FTP downloads was 42,360+ • As of October 2003 the number of downloads is over 42,000 • This is probably due to the increase in Census downloads

  11. Data Liberation Initiative DLI COLLECTION • Since 1995 there have been well over 251,000 FTP downloads • This is not an complete picture of downloads due as a number of institutions belong to consortiums where a file is downloaded once from DLI and placed in a regional/local server

  12. Data Liberation Initiative DLI COLLECTION • We are attempting to decrease the number of hardcopy products (CDs & paper metadata) that we disseminate • If we can place a CD product on the FTP we will , especially if the author division provides us with just one copy • We are also in the process of scanning in all of our paper products (metadata) and making them available on the site as PDF files

  13. Data Liberation Initiative DLI COLLECTION • We have just completed scanning in all the documentation for the Survey of Consumer Finance • This is cheaper than photocopying or burning hardcopy versions and them mailing and will save us money in the long run • If members still want us to replicate and mail a hardcopy version we will – but this will eventually have an impact on the budget

  14. Data Liberation Initiative DLI MEMBERSHIP • Earlier this year we received notice that two members had decided to withdraw: • Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue • Red Deer College • Discussion with these two institutions were held by the EAC member in the respective regions to determine if they could be convinced to remain in the program

  15. Data Liberation Initiative DLI MEMBERSHIP • Unfortunately the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue did not change their mind BUT Red Deer College did • There are now 65 member institutions in the DLI program • When a member leaves the program there are a number of consequences

  16. Data Liberation Initiative DLI MEMBERSHIP • All use of data and files obtained through the program must stop • All data and files must be returned or destroyed or new licences must be obtained • New licences could also involve additional costs • They also lose access to level 2 data on the Census web site

  17. Data Liberation Initiative DLI MEMBERSHIP • We have had some enquires from other institutions about joining the DLI Program • Our normal response is to request that these institutions first check out our web site to learn about our licence and our collection • We also ask that they check out E-STAT to see if this will suit their data needs

  18. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO EAC • According to our Governance guidelines three positions on the External Advisory Committee were up for renewal • A request was sent out via DLILIST for nominations - - The response was overwhelming! • As a result the following members have been re-named to continue for an additional term:

  19. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO EAC • Barbara Znamirowski from Trent University • Mary MacLeod from Acadia University • Chuck Humphrey from University of Alberta • Another change to the EAC was that Gaetan Drolet of Université Laval announced his retirement

  20. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO EAC • This event made us realize that due to our current structure there would be 100% turnover of EAC member for the Quebec Region • As a result it was agreed that the structure of the EAC would be changed so that each region would be represented by two members • In this way only one regional position would come up for renewal at any one time

  21. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO EAC • As well we would still retain the two other academic positions of: • a representative from the research community (currently Chad Gadfiled from University of Ottawa) • and one from the library director community (currently Mark Legott from University of Winnipeg) • At the next EAC meeting (spring 2004) the structure of the terms will be reviewed

  22. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO EAC • Current Academic EAC members are: • Atlantic Region: • Elizabeth Hamiliton - UNB • Mary MacLeod – Acadia • Quebec Region: • Richard Boily - Université du Québec à Rimouski • Guy Julian – Université Laval

  23. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO EAC • Ontario Region • Wendy Watkins – Carleton University • Barbara Znamirowski – Trent University • West Region • Chuck Humphrey – University of Alberta • Walter Piovesan – Simon Fraser University

  24. Data Liberation Initiative TRAINING CO-ORDINATOR CHANGES • Another critical retirement is from our group of Regional Training Co-ordinators • Jerry Bull from Universitè de Montrèal will retire this December • Jerry and Gaetan were the DLI Regional Training Co-ordinators for Quebec • Again Sage will cover this and other changes tomorrow

  25. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO DLI AT STC • As reported last year Christiane Rousseau did retire as of the end of October 2003 • Her duties will be assumed by Anne Chartrand • Marie-Josée Bourgeois has joined the Section for a year to work full time on the web pages

  26. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO DLI AT STC • Although last year I stated that Ernie Boyko would be retiring in June of 2003 he surprised all of us and stayed on • This year he has informed me that I can announce that it is his intention now to retire in June of 2004 • Must be true as he has started to clean out his office

  27. Data Liberation Initiative CHANGES TO DLI AT STC • This fall we finally released our “new look” web pages and we have received favourable comments on the changes • We will be looking at all pages and making minor adjustments where required • If anyone has any suggestions as to content changes please let us know

  28. Data Liberation Initiative DLI & RDC:A CONTINUUM RELATIONSHIP • The DLI and the RDCs are two different points along the continuum of data access • There are some commonalities and overlaps within both Programs • Gustave Goldman, Director of the RDC program, was invited to the October EAC meeting to discuss how we could best work together

  29. Data Liberation Initiative DLI & RDC:A CONTINUUM RELATIONSHIP • One area that we have in common, and where we could benefit from working together, is in the area of METRICS • It is recognized that officially measuring and documenting data access and use is essential in order to demonstrate and maintain the viability of both programs

  30. Data Liberation Initiative DLI & RDC: A CONTINUUM RELATIONSHIP • For RDCs metrics is closely linked to continued funding for the program • In the case of DLI metrics, i.e. feedback to producing divisions, is linked to their continued willingness to provide DLI with data files

  31. Data Liberation Initiative DLI & RDC:A CONTINUUM RELATIONSHIP • We have agreed to work together to see if we can develop and implement procedures and techniques that will gather the information required by both programs • Another reason to work together on this is that collecting this information could take more resources than is available from each program individually

  32. Data Liberation Initiative DLI & RDC:A CONTINUUM RELATIONSHIP • We have also agreed that TRAINING is another area where we may be able to work together • It is felt that DLI members could benefit from learning what happens at the RDCs esp. with regard to confidentiality rules and guidelines

  33. Data Liberation Initiative DLI & RDC:A CONTINUUM RELATIONSHIP • As well RDCs reps could benefit from the type of training that we provide to our DLI Contacts • As a result, whenever feasible, someone from the local RDC will be invited to participate in Regional Training Workshops

  34. Data Liberation Initiative DLI & RDC:A CONTINUUM RELATIONSHIP • To help strengthen the bridges between the two programs we have also decided to have representatives sit on each others committees • Raymond Currie has been named as the RDC representative on our External Advisory Committee • Wendy Watkins will sit as the DLI rep on the RDC National Co-ordinating Committee

  35. Data Liberation Initiative OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS • Stats Canada’a home page has had some minor changes • For example the sidebar has had some wording changes • Of interest to DLI members will be the: • Definitions, Data Sources and Methods link • The Studies link

  36. Data Liberation Initiative OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS • A number of cash prizes and awards from Stats Canada, often in conjunction with other agencies, are listed in the Learning Resources pages under Postsecondary • Prizes for Students in Education • $500 prize for the best curriculum project • $2,000 each for up to 5 educational research proposals using STC data • $500 for best foundations paper by a pre-service education student

  37. Data Liberation Initiative OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS • Prize for Students in Geography/Native Studies • $700 to a graduate student in geography or native studies for the best Master's or PhD thesis on an aboriginal topic.

  38. Data Liberation Initiative OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS • Prize for Students in Geography/ Environmental Studies • $750 to an undergraduate student in geography and/or environmental studies for the best paper examining impacts of human activity on Canada's environment • Students in Statistical Survey Methods • $200 for best paper in survey methods

  39. Data Liberation Initiative OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS • A new program to help in determining quality of estimates • Many polls that appear in the news provide data quality guidelines like: “These estimates are reliably within plus or minus 3% - 19 times out of 20” • For Stats Canada - determining quality of estimates retrieved from public use microdata files is done using Coefficients of Variation (CV) look up tables

  40. Data Liberation Initiative OTHER NEW DEVELOPMENTS • These CV tables are found in the User Guides that accompany the public file • This is a very complex process that should be done before any estimates are published • The following excerpts from the User’ s Guide for the Adult Education and Training Survey 1998 shown some of the process that users are expected to go through

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