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Data Liberation Initiative: Unlocking Access to Canadian Data

Learn about the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) and how it provides access to valuable Canadian data. Discover the history, need, and benefits of the program.

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Data Liberation Initiative: Unlocking Access to Canadian Data

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  1. DLI ORIENTATION PROGRAM Data Liberation Initiative INTRODUCTION EDMONTON, DECEMBER 5, 2001

  2. GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS Data Liberation Initiative DLI ORIENTATION PROGRAM EDMONTON, DECEMBER 5, 2001

  3. Chuck - Data Liberation Initiative POPPABEAR

  4. Elizabeth - MOMMA BEAR Data Liberation Initiative

  5. Garth - BABY BEAR Data Liberation Initiative

  6. Mike - …!!! Data Liberation Initiative EDMONTON, DECEMBER 5, 2001

  7. Data Liberation Initiative 2001

  8. EDMONTON, DECEMBER 5, 2001 Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data

  9. Data Liberation Initiative Why the heck do we need a DLI?

  10. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • Historically Stats Canada made published data available to public through the DSP • These were regular paper publications and did not include electronic numeric files (ie. Public use micro data files) • Data files were available to researchers at marginal costs • Custom tables were another, more costly, method to access unpublished data

  11. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • In 1980’s federal budget cuts resulted in Stats Canada’s increased emphasis on cost recovery • In early 1990’s the cost of public use microdata files underwent a dramatic increase • This pushed most data files became out of reach for majority of academic researchers & students

  12. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • The cost of Stats Canada data in the late 80’s and early 90’s can be compared to the gas prices of just a few months ago. To many academic researchers and students these files cost...

  13. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • A consortium of universities had been created to gain access to 1986 Census data • This idea was well received by STC and led to a movement within academic community to Liberatethe rest of STC’s electronic datafiles • A paper in 1991: “Liberating the Data: Proposal for a Proposal” led to a working group to further investigate this idea • Group made up of reps. from: universities, SSFC, CARL, CAPDU, as well as STC and DSP

  14. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • Champions within both the academic community and Statistics Canada came forth to push this idea • Informal approval was received in 1995 • This was followed by the creation of: • An internal STC Steering Committee • A Project Team • An External Advisory Committee

  15. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • A Licence Agreement was drafted and approved • Author divisions were asked to provide there data to the Initiative • Institutions were invited to join the initiative • Other Gov’t agencies became involved and formal approval for 5-year pilot received from Treasury Board in early 1996

  16. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • Funding for initiative was to be mostly from participating institutions with CARL members paying $12,000 and CASUL members paying $3,000 • One time funding from: TB, IC, MRCC • A 5 year funding commitment from: HC, HRDC, SSHRC, STC

  17. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • Use of Internet as a dissemination tool seen as a key component of initiative • Established mechanisms for communications, storage, finding and ordering data • Created an FTP Site at STC • DLILIST - a forum for questions and sharing of information • DLIORDER & WWW DLI ORDER DESK - for placing orders for products not on the FTP site • Began disseminating files in 1996

  18. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • Before DLI about 15 institutions offered a data service • Therefore co-operative training of members was seen as an extremely important aspect due to varying degrees of experience of members. • Established a training committee and began to develop a curriculum, identify trainers, establish budgets • Regional training workshops were begun in 1997

  19. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • Training workshops have been given in each region on an annual basis since then • Have just had a review of training and a report was presented to EAC last fall • One suggestion was to have another Orientation session for new members who missed the one in 1997 • This workshop and this special Orientation session part of continuing co-operative training

  20. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • In 1996 there were 50 post secondary members • In 1998 there were 61 • Today there are 66 members • There are over 13,000 files in the DLI collection including data files, documentation, CD’s etc. • Can now access the collection via DLI Web Site as well as FTP

  21. Data Liberation Initiative The Need to Liberate The Data • The DLI is now a permanent program at Stats Canada located within the Library and Information Centre • Today’s graduates have had the opportunity to use Canadian data throughout their studies • The DLI has been described as one of the most important developments in the social sciences in Canada for the past 50 years!

  22. Data Liberation Initiative What is The Data Liberation Initiative? EDMONTON, DECEMBER , 2001

  23. Data Liberation Initiative • The Products • The Licence • The Service • The Community

  24. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • DLI provides access to Stats Canada data produced as standard electronic productsavailable to the public • These data are digitally encoded and stored in a file structure • These include: • Micro data Files • Geography Files • Databases • Aggregate data in table format

  25. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • Main focus of DLI Collection on Socio-Economic data: • Health • Education, Literacy • Labour Market, Income • Travel • Justice • Census, Demographic • Etc.

  26. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • Few products related to Business data in DLI Collection • Not usually produced as a standard electronic product for public dissemination • DLI includes some business products such as: • Trade data • Financial Performance Indicators CD • Inter-Corporate Ownership • Fleet Report • Survey of Manufacturing

  27. Standard Electronic Product An “off the shelf ” electronic product available to the public Not included are standard publications available in electronic form as these are usually part of DSP Registered in STC Catalogue of Products and Services and has a Product Number Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS

  28. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • 82F0077XIE Report on smoking prevalence in Canada • 82-003-XPB980034138 Attitudes toward smoking • First 2 characters = Major Subject Group • Third character = Product Class (e.g. F = Fixed, M = Microdata product, C = Custom product, etc) • Fourth - seventh character = unique product number

  29. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • 82F0077XIE Report on smoking prevalence in Canada • 82-003-XPB980034138 Attitudes toward smoking • Eighth character = variable descriptor (e.g.. P = Preliminary, U = Update, X = Not Applicable, G = Guide, etc) • Ninth character = medium (e.g.. T = tape, D = diskette, I = Internet, C = CD, etc) • Tenth Character = Language

  30. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • 11-008-XPE960032868 Youth smoking in CanadaThis article was published in Canadian social trends, catalogue number 11-008-XPE, Winter 1996 no.43 • 82M0011XDB Youth Smoking Survey, 1994 • 82M0011GPE Youth Smoking Survey, 1994 - Microdata user's guide • 82C0014 Youth Smoking Survey, 1994 - Custom tabulations

  31. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • Metadata available in both Official Languages whenever available • New data products continually being added to Collection • Includes: • Updated data from regular on-going surveys • Data from ad-hoc special surveys -one time only • Data from new surveys in STC program

  32. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • Updates may be provided in different format than earlier version: • For example PUMF Beyond 20/20 • As new versions are received have to decide to either replace data or add to Collection • Over 13,000 files in Collection including: • Data files • Metadata & Readme files • Census & Geography • CD’s

  33. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • Not all products in DLI Collection are standard electronic products • Have some “special” products just for DLI which contain non-public data: • KLEMSdatabase • An experimental database of productivity data • Justice Statistics • Complete set of Beyond 20/20 tables normally only available to members of CCJS Initiative

  34. Data Liberation Initiative THEPRODUCTS • No longer included in the DLI Collection are: • E-STAT • Received CD once per year • E-STAT now free on-line to subscribing institutions • CANSIM • received a CD of CANSIM once a year • With introduction of CANSIM II this no longer happens • CANSIM data included on E-STAT

  35. Data Liberation Initiative THELICENCE • DLI is open to all accredited Post Secondary Institutions in Canada • Data made available on a subscription basis • All member institutions must sign a Licence Agreement • Data made available to Educators, Students and Other Staff while they have such status at the Institution • E.g.. A student who goes to USA to do Masters no longer has access to data

  36. Data Liberation Initiative THELICENCE • Data is made available for: • Academic Research and Publishing • Teaching • Planning of academic/educational services • Use of data in textbooks falls under a different set of STC licences and permissions • Data not to be used in any commercial or private activities (even if no $$ involved) • DLI Contact responsible to ensure eligible use of data

  37. Data Liberation Initiative THELICENCE • Other questions to help determine if use falls under definition of academic research • If publishing - is use strictly for publishing in academic or scholarly journal? • Is use under a contract with outside agency/organization? - Any $$ involved? • Do $$ come thru institution’s “grants dept”? • Even if no $$ involved did contract come thru regular institutional channels? • Is data expected to be shared with outside agency/organization?

  38. Data Liberation Initiative THELICENCE • Other important elements of the Licence Agreement: • Data & products offered “as is “ • STC remains owner of intellectual property - only access to data is provided • Users must not link data or otherwise try to identify individual respondents • DLI Contact to implement data security measures • May have users sign before allowing access

  39. Data Liberation Initiative THELICENCE • Plans to create document on Web to address more common data use elegibility questions • Have gathered all questions since 1996 • This to be done as soon as time and resources permit • Until then if unsure send message to Team for consideration • All questions reviewed by DLI Manager & Director as well as Co-Chairs of EAC

  40. Data Liberation Initiative THELICENCE • In process of finalizing new Licence Agreement to reflect move from pilot to permanency • This to be sent to Library Directors soon • Until then will continue to operate under original Licence Agreement

  41. Data Liberation Initiative THESERVICES • DLI was conceived to be a Internet based means of dissemination - internet the main mode of data transfer and communications • DLI Team offers both an FTP and a Web based service for access to Collection • DLILIST - forum for making enquires, sharing of information and general communication between and among members • DLIORDER & WWW DLI ORDER DESK - processes to order hard copy versions of products not available electronically

  42. Data Liberation Initiative THESERVICES The DLI Team • DLI activities at STC are performed by a small Team situated in the Library and Information Center - currently there are 6 members on the Team • Have just lost one Team member who was responsible for Liaison/Communications and whose duties included: • Responding to enquires in DLILIST • Liaison with author divisions • Producing DLI Update

  43. Data Liberation Initiative THESERVICES • Other Team members include: • André Blondin • Responsible for: • Quality Control of data and metadata • Maintenance of FTP site directories • Loading of files on FTP site • Overseeing creation of SPSS

  44. Data Liberation Initiative THESERVICES • André Blondin

  45. Data Liberation Initiative THESERVICES • Other Team members include: • Christiane Rousseau • Responsible for: • Assistant Liaison/Communication • DLIORDER/WWW DLI ORDER DESK and hardcopy products • Maintaining library of CD’s and print documentation

  46. Data Liberation Initiative THESERVICES • Christiane Rousseau

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