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A Brief History of Data in Canada and Canadian Academic Libraries

This presentation explores the history of data in Canada, the role of data liberation, Carleton University's Library Data Centre, the birth of MADGIC in the library, Canada's record in data collection, research data management and open data, and the need for leadership in this area.

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A Brief History of Data in Canada and Canadian Academic Libraries

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  1. A Brief History of Data in Canada and Canadian Academic Libraries Presentation to Maynooth University Librarians and Friends Wendy Watkins wendy.watkins@carleton.ca Carleton University March, 2014

  2. Outline • A brief history of data in Canada • Data Liberation as a catalyst • Carleton University’s Library Data Centre • Abracadabra--the birth of MADGIC in the Library • The broader picture • Canada’s shameful record • Research Data Management and Open Data • Where in the world are the leaders? • Questions?

  3. In the Beginning There was the Machine-Readable Archives of the Public Archives of Canada (MRAD-PAC)

  4. What Happened?

  5. Wandering in the Wilderness • No national leadership • No international voice • Handful of data services in university computing centres and research units • Statistics Canada data priced out of reach

  6. Changing of the Guard – New Government • Statistics Canada data had always been expensive • Licences forbade sharing; researchers needed grants or cash • 1986 Census cancelled and reinstated under cost-recovery • Statistics Canada’s prices increased up to 1000% • Universities priced out of the picture (many not in the frame in the first place)

  7. Home-grown measures • Universities formed purchasing consortia for Statistics Canada Data • Involved separate negotiations for every research file (there were about 250) • Not everyone could afford to play • Needed another solution

  8. Bring on the Liberators • 1992 – Paper “Liberating the Data” • Proposed affordable access for Canadian universities • 1996 – Data Liberation Inititative (DLI) launched • Annual subscription for post-secondary institutions for • All STC’s public microdata, aggregate data and geographic files • 50 universities in year 1 • 75 now; nearly 100% coverage • Carleton’s DLI home is in the Library Data Centre

  9. Carleton University’s Library Data Centre (est. 1965)

  10. Data Rescues and the <odesi> project • Involved in several major data rescues • Canadian Gallup Polls (1945-2000) • The Centre for Research and Information on Canada • Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation • Listening to Canadians • Major instigator in the development of a web-based data documentation and extraction service

  11. ABRACADABRA, the Birth of MADGIC(Maps, Data and Government Information Centre)

  12. MADGIC – View from the Desk

  13. Maps in MADGIC

  14. GIS in MADGIC

  15. Gov Docs in MADGIC

  16. Canada – Data Collection in Jeopardy • Successive budget cuts have crippled the world’s number 1 statistical agency

  17. Datalibre.caUrging governments to make data free and easlily accessible for Canadians • Tracey Lauriault is a fearless fighter for open data and evidence-based policy • Great place to keep abreast of Canadian data news

  18. Research Data Management and Open Data: Calling all Librarians • Open data without management will remain locked • Librarians have the skills to organize open data

  19. Where are the Experts? Try Scotland • University of Edinburgh has • and the Digital Curation Centre in cooperation with the Universities of Glasgow and Bath

  20. Where Else Are the Experts? Try CESSDA

  21. Questions?

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