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Putting Acquisitions into Dataset Acquisitions

Acquisitions Institute at Timberline

May 2022

Sarah Forzetting, Acquisitions & Collections Services

Stanford University Libraries

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Stanford Libraries and Research Data

Nerd Squirrel, the Stanford Libraries mascot, waving from in front of Green Library

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  • ~60 bibliographers�
  • Subject specialists report to AULs by subject�
  • ~$25 million budget
  • ~45 staff�
  • Organized by unit function�
  • ~100K items paid each year

Acquisitions & Collections Services

Collection Development & Public Services

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Stanford Libraries Acquired Datasets

  • PDF
  • txt
  • GIS
  • JSON
  • XML
  • geoDB, geoJSON
  • shapefiles
  • csv

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Data Workflows Task Force

Question: �Are datasets so special that they need separate and unique workflow for acquisition, discovery, and access?

Answer: �No. Datasets are selected, licensed, ordered, received, cataloged, and made accessible for patrons to use.

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What next?

Remaining problem: �Datasets are not integrated into any current library systems

Solution: �Expert staff + integrated workflow

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E-Resources Workflow (Before)

Licensing

Ordering

E-Resources

Metadata

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E-Resources Management for Data Falls onto Subject Specialists

Licensing

Ordering

E-Resources

Metadata

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Licenses inadvertently create barriers to system integration

Licensing

E-Resources

Metadata

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Add a Data Curator to the Workflow

Licensing

Ordering

E-Resources

Metadata

Evaluation

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Implications for Acquisitions Staff - Ordering

  • A new workflow to understand and follow
    • Automation can help

What is data?

What does it mean for Stanford to host the data?

How will we know if/when an update is coming?

What is included the data purchase?

Huh?

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Implications for Acquisitions Staff - Reporting

  • New order types
    • One-time vs. Recurring
    • Department reimbursement
  • Tagging
    • Identify access point
    • Delivery option

How much do we spend on data?

How much do non-Library departments contribute to purchases?

Which resources are hosted by the provider?

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Data Curator as E-Resources Librarian

Licensing

Ordering

E-Resources

Metadata

Evaluation

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Access + Metadata

Request + Evaluation

License + Evaluation + Order

  • Washington Post 1974-2019�
  • JSON�
  • ~3 million articles�
  • 60 GB�
  • Stanford will host

  • New files annually
  • Passive Data Use Agreement�
  • Must be transformed to tabular files�
  • File naming specs�
  • Recurring order�
  • Funding�

  • Query/extract on Redivis�
  • Bulk download option�
  • Corrections, revisions�
  • Curation documentation�
  • Catalog record

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Implications for Acquisitions staff - Verification and Access

  • TBD

  • Will require reskilling and upskilling

  • We have enough people, but not enough skills

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What do you think? (We need help!)

Is Acquisitions the right place for content verification and establishing access for datasets?

What work should Acquisitions stop doing to free up time to better support new formats?

How do we inspire staff to do new things?