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Experiences with Data Dissemination

This presentation discusses the parallels between data dissemination experiences in a Data Centre with the DLI and the challenges faced by GIS librarians. It provides insights and solutions based on the University of Guelph's experiences integrating data and maps.

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Experiences with Data Dissemination

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  1. Experiences with Data Dissemination ACMLA Meetings Toronto, 2002 Bo Wandschneider Manager Academic Service University of Guelph Bo@uoguelph.ca ACMLA - Toronto

  2. Introduction • Parallels between what we went through in Data Centre with DLI and what GIS librarians going through now • There is overlap and we can gain from each others experiences • Many sites integrate ‘data’ and ‘maps’ ACMLA - Toronto

  3. Topics of Discussion • History of DRC • Proposal Stage • Why Successful • Hardware • What You Need • Developments • GIS ACMLA - Toronto

  4. What To Expect • Not providing answers • Outlining our process and solutions with respect to ‘data’ • May help you make decisions for your own site with respect to geospatial data • Speak in general terms with focus on UoG experiences ACMLA - Toronto

  5. History of DRC I • Grew out of the Social Sciences • There was a need • Economics researchers did a lot of empirical work and other departments looked to their support person for help (this included library) • Already developed interfaces to CANSIM, CRSP and LAVAL ACMLA - Toronto

  6. History of DRC II • Joined ICPSR in early 90’s • Questions re: funding and support • Attended a summer workshop at ICPSR put on by Chuck Humphrey, Diane Geraci and Jim Jacobs • Visited Laine Russ and Vince Gray and talked to lots of of people on lists like CAPDU, DLI, IASSIST ACMLA - Toronto

  7. Proposal Stage • Based on information gathered • Wrote a detailed proposal outlining various models for a Guelph data centre in 1993 • Flogged it to EVERYONE • DLI was the key • Kansas was playing with SAS/Perl • Developed a prototype ACMLA - Toronto

  8. Proposal to Pilot • Set up a Pilot in Fall of 1996 • Partnership between CCS and Library and CSS • Moved from CSS to CCS – partnership changed • SAC formed to give us a forum to vet ideas and generate support ACMLA - Toronto

  9. Why Successful • Timing was right – latent demand • Collaborative – CCS/Library • Built a TEAM • Librarian - Gov Docs • Library Associate - Gov Docs • Systems Analyst – programmer • Systems Analyst – background with data applications in Social Science research ACMLA - Toronto

  10. Hardware/Infrastructure • Physical location with personal/public workstations in Library • Central Unix Server (piggy back on Stats Server) • Started as HP K200, single Processor, 256 Mb memory with about 10GB dedicated to DRC • Now a Sun E450, 4 processor, 4Gb memory with about 200GB disk for DRC ACMLA - Toronto

  11. What you need • Need someone with vision and drive • Don’t get stuck talking in committees about problems needs and ideal solutions. Although, buy-in is critical • Demand is out there now so get the info to the users and worry about the details later. • Someone will always do it better tomorrow – use that to grow your service • Get people with hands-on experience or train, train, train – This is applied work • Publicize ACMLA - Toronto

  12. Further Developments • Moved to integrate with Gov Docs Reference (challenging, really just happening over last year) • TDR partnership • Developed DDI compliant metadata • GIS ACMLA - Toronto

  13. GIS • From the beginning we discussed what to do with Census Maps • Lacked GIS skills on our team • Most of our data is geo-spatially referenced • Problem - no consensus on GIS tools on campus • Lacked specialized equipment/lab in library to deliver information • Needs exist in departments beyond core GIS users ACMLA - Toronto

  14. GIS - What we did first • Started small – biggest bang for the buck • Hired a work study student • They wrote web pages to wrap around census files • Explained files and how to use them in detail • Simply served the files to user • Worked very well • Used by other sites • http://drc.uoguelph.ca/GEOG/geogindex.htm ACMLA - Toronto

  15. GIS - What happened? • NTDB, NRVIS, DMTI, DCRB, Grand River, Municipal, OMAFRA Soil Maps …. • This is a good thing, right ? • déjà vu ? ACMLA - Toronto

  16. GIS - What did we do next • Jenny Marvin became the GIS librarian • Integrated, Gov Docs, Data and Maps • Changes in CCS staffing of DRC allowed us to have our staff gain experience with GIS, specifically ESRI • Negotiated a site licence for ESRI on campus • Someone ‘gave us’ a disk tower • Still a partnership between CCS and Library ACMLA - Toronto

  17. GIS - What else did we do • Wrote pages around the new data and served it to the users like what we did for census • Added 3 work stations outside DRC with account security for maps that need licences signed by user (incl. ESRI and CDRW’s) • High School and Work Study help • Onus is still on the client to figure out how to view information – they need the skills ACMLA - Toronto

  18. GIS - What are we going to do • ARCIMS – deliver maps on the web for those with no GIS skills • ARC Catalog – create metadata for collection • Offer training in ARCGIS similar to what we do with SAS and SPSS • Promote use of ESRI • Establish a GIS lab in library • http://drc.uoguelph.ca/GIS_SITE/ ACMLA - Toronto

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