Technological advances and the rise of collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches have changed the practice of research. The 21st century researcher not only faces the challenge of managing increasingly complex datasets, but also new data sharing requirements from funders and journals. Success in today’s research enterprise requires an understanding of how to work effectively with data, yet most researchers have never had any formal training in data management. Libraries have begun developing services and programs to help researchers meet the demands of the data-driven research enterprise, giving librarians exciting new opportunities to use their expertise and skills. The Medical Library Association Guide to Data Management for Librarians highlights the many ways that librarians are addressing researchers’ changing needs at a variety of institutions, including academic, hospital, and government libraries. Each chapter ends with “pearls of wisdom,” a bulleted list of 5-10 takeaway messages from the chapter that will help readers quickly put the ideas from the chapter into practice. From theoretical foundations to practical applications, this book provides a background for librarians who are new to data management as well as new ideas and approaches for experienced data librarians.

Libraries organize information and data is information, so it is natural that librarians should help people who need to find, organize, use, or store data. Organizations need evidence for decision making; data provides that evidence. Inventors and creators build upon data collected by others. All around us, people need data. Librarians can help increase the relevance of their library to the research and education mission of their institution by learning more about data and how to manage it. Data Management will guide readers through: Understanding data management basics and best practices. Using the reference interview to help with data management Writing data management plans for grants. Starting and growing a data management service. Finding collaborators inside and outside the library. Collecting and using data in different disciplines.

An insider’s guide to data librarianship packed full of practical examples and advice for any library and information professional learning to deal with data. Interest in data has been growing in recent years. Support for this peculiar class of digital information – its use, preservation and curation, and how to support researchers’ production and consumption of it in ever greater volumes to create new knowledge, is needed more than ever. Many librarians and information professionals are finding their working life is pulling them toward data support or research data management but lack the skills required. The Data Librarian’s Handbook, written by two data librarians with over 30 years’ combined experience, unpicks the everyday role of the data librarian and offers practical guidance on how to collect, curate and crunch data for economic, social and scientific purposes. With contemporary case studies from a range of institutions and disciplines, tips for best practice, study aids and links to key resources, this book is a must-read for all new entrants to the field, library and information students and working professionals. Key topics covered include: • the evolution of data libraries and data archives • handling data compared to other forms of information • managing and curating data to ensure effective use and longevity • how to incorporate data literacy into mainstream library instruction and information literacy training • how to develop an effective institutional research data management (RDM) policy and infrastructure • how to support and review a data management plan (DMP) for a project, a key requirement for most research funders • approaches for developing, managing and promoting data repositories • handling and sharing confidential or sensitive data • supporting open scholarship and open science, ensuring data are discoverable, accessible, intelligible and assessable. This title is for the practising data librarian, possibly new in their post with little experience of providing data support. It is also for managers and policy-makers, public service librarians, research data management coordinators and data support staff. It will also appeal to students and lecturers in iSchools and other library and information degree programmes where academic research support is taught.

Here is a complete guide for librarians seeking to launch or refine their systematic review services. Conducting searches for systematic reviews goes beyond expert searching and requires an understanding of the entire process of the systematic review. Just as expert searching is not fully mastered by the end of a library degree, mastering the systematic review process takes a great deal of time and practice. Attending workshops and webinars can introduce the topic, but application of the knowledge through practice is required. Running a systematic review service is complicated and requires constant updating and evaluation with new standards, more efficient methods, and improved reporting guidelines. After a brief introduction to systematic reviews, the book guides librarians in defining and marketing their services, covering topics such as when it is appropriate to ask for co-authorship and how to reach out to stakeholders. Next, it addresses developing documentation and conducting the reference interview. Standards specific to systematic reviews, including PRISMA, Institute of Medicine, and Cochrane Collaboration, are discussed. Search strategy techniques, including choosing databases, harvesting search terms, selecting filters, and searching for grey literature are detailed. Data management and critical appraisal are covered in detail. Finally, the best practices for reporting the findings of systematic reviews are highlighted. Experts with experience in both systematic reviews and librarianship, including the editors of the book, contributed to the chapters. Each step (or piece) of the review process (Planning the review, Identifying the studies, Evaluating studies, Collecting and combining data, Explaining the results, and Summarizing the review into a report), are covered with emphasis on information roles. The book is for any librarian interested in conducting reviews or assisting others with reviews. It has several applications: for training librarians new to systematic reviews, for those developing a new systematic review service, for those wanting to establish protocols for a current service, and as a reference for those conducting reviews or running a service. Participating in systematic reviews is a new frontier of librarianship, in which librarians can truly become research partners with our patrons, instead of merely providing access to resources and services.

Written specifically for information professionals, this text helps you grasp the fundamentals of a rapidly emerging field and describes how medical libraries can be essential players in the health informatics revolution. The book includes discussion of the history, role, and infrastructure of medical informatics as well as its impact on access to medical information and the culture and quality of medical care. From data and information processing to database management, telecommunications and networks, computer-aided instruction, and special technologies like wearable computers, you'll find thorough information on medical knowledge and the use of information technology tools in the health sciences. All major arenas--including nursing, pharmaceutical, dental, public health, hospital, and veterinary informatics--are considered in detail. A must-have for every medical or health library and information center, this is also an ideal text for undergraduate or graduate-level courses in biomedical information management.

This concise sourcebook takes the guesswork out of locating the best sources of data, a process more important than ever as the data landscape grows increasingly cluttered. Much of the most frequently used data can be found free online, and this book shows readers how to look for it with the assistance of user-friendly tools. This thoroughly annotated guide will be a boon to library staff at public libraries, high school libraries, academic libraries, and other research institutions, with concentrated coverage of Data sources for frequently researched subjects such as agriculture, the earth sciences, economics, energy, political science, transportation, and many more The basics of data reference along with an overview of the most useful sources, focusing on free online sources of reliable statistics like government agencies and NGOs Statistical datasets, and how to understand and make use of them How to use article databases, WorldCat, and subject experts to find data Methods for citing data Survey Documentation and Analysis (SDA) software This guide cuts through the data jargon to help librarians and researchers find exactly what they're looking for.

Many hospitals and health care organizations that were independent, freestanding institutions are now part of large health systems that deliver patient care in a variety of inpatient, ambulatory, and community settings. Vast changes in the U.S. health care system are reshaping how librarians provide services to physicians and other patient caregivers, as well as to medical and allied health sciences students and faculty. Twenty one experts have contributed to this groundbreaking text. Their individual chapters offer specific, practical advice on administrative issues, planning and marketing, financial management, space planning, collection development, cataloging and classification, document delivery, audiovisual services -- every aspect of managing today's ever-changing health care library. Required reading for any librarian offering health care information to professionals, faculty, or consumers.