discovering a profession: the accidental data librarian first data, then docs jeffrey s. bullington...

Discovering a Profession: The Accidental Data Librarian

First Data, Then Docs

Jeffrey S. Bullington

Data Services and Federal Government Information Librarian

University of Kansas Libraries

Discovering a Profession: The Accidental Data LibrarianFirst Data, Then Docs

Data Services Librarian and Liaison for Economics – April 2003– Also ICPSR OR– Work with GIS and Statistical Computing

Specialists– My primary role is to be a ‘Data Scout’– When working with patrons to find data,

noticed trend that time and again, paths frequently led to Government Sector.


Taking on the Government– Late Fall 2003, asked to assume role as

Government Information Librarian for our Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) resources and services.

– Combination a natural one with significant overlap with Data Services work.

– During that time, have come to learn much more about policies and content in U.S. Federal Information.


Driving forces for U.S. Federal Government Information Gathering, Production, and Dissemination.– U.S. Census of Population and Housing

• Mandated in Article 2, U.S. Constitution– “The actual Enumeration shall be made within three

Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.” United States Constitution,, Article 2. Retrieved from http://www.ourdocuments.gov


Census has come to be an important tool for providing demographic profile of nation.

Even if Census figures not direct target, still often help provide backdrop against which other data makes sense.– Example: Private equity investment by

MSA.


USC Title 44: The Federal Government’s obligation to provide information to the people.– Early 19th Century: Congress determines

that the Federal Government must release work information from the three branches to the public, in interests of an educated and informed citizenry

• Government Printing Office that vehicle – established FDLP, and distributes information throughout country via libraries.


GPO largely and historically dealt with printed, textual material, but also statistical resources if in printed form.– Census Materials– Labor, Education, Commerce Statistics,

Statistical Abstract of the U.S. and more.– More available electronically everyday.

How to identify potential data resources emanating from the U.S. Federal Government sector?


Federal Statistical Policy Environment– Office of Management and Budget,

Executive Office of the President• Provides general oversight of Federal Statistics

activities.• OMB Annual Report: “Statistical Programs of

the United States”– Information on major statistics gathering agencies

and programs» Budget» Program Scope and Recent Changes» Long Range Plans


Statistical Programs of the United States Government– Chapter One: Budgets for Statistical

Programs.• Agencies with $500,000 or more direct funding

for statistics gathering (FY05 figures)• Even so, identifies almost 80 different Federal

Government agencies with such activities.• $ 5.14 Billion estimated expenditures for FY05• 40% of this from 10 specific agencies with

statistics gathering as primary mission focus


Statistical Programs of the United States Government

Some examples and projected budgets:– Census Bureau – 848.6 Million– National Agricultural Statistics Service

(NESS) – 137.6 Million– National Center for Health Statistics

(NCHS)– 149.6 Million– Energy Information Administration (EIA) –

85.0 Million


Statistical Programs of the United States Government.– Chapter Two: Programs and Program

Changes.• All agencies discussed under 4 themes

– Health and Safety– Social and Demographic Resources– Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment– Economic


Statistical Programs of the United States Government

– Chapter 3: Long Range Plans• Information about ongoing or planned

initiatives to improve Federal Statistical Programs– Statistical Confidentiality and Data Sharing– One-Stop Shopping for Federal Statistics– Decennial Census– American Community Survey

– Appendices have additional budget info, acronyms list, selected web directory


Statistical Programs of the United States Government– Ok, not a real page turner, but an

interesting and worthwhile read for quick overview of Federal Statistics environment, resources, and future directions.

– 1997 to 2005 reports available online for quick access.

• http://www.fedstats.gov/policy/


Selected U.S. Federal Statistics and Data websites.– FedStats: http://www.fedstats.gov


Http://www.firstgov.gov gateway page for Data And Statistics. Links to major statistical agencies and subject portals.


Http://www.agingstats.gov– A cross-agency, themed portal.


Http://www.geodata.gov – Another thematic portal to data


Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis• FRED II: 3,000 U.S. Economic Time Series• http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/


Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis– FRASER: Archive of Federal Reserve

materials http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/


National Archives and Records Administration: AAD (Access to Archival Databases)


ICPSR Special Topics Archives. Contracted by government agencies to house, preserve, and serve out data.– 4 Topical Archives from Federal Agencies

• International Archive of Education Data(IAED)• National Archive of Computerized Data on

Aging(NACDA)• National Archive of Criminal Justice

Data(NACJD)• Substance Abuse & Medical Health Data

Archive(SAMHDA)


Preservation: Who’s taking care of it all?– ICPSR– Federal Reserve Bank System– NARA– NDIPP as a newer program to capture

‘born digital’ materials– GPO conducting experiment with web

harvesting to capture agency web site materials.


Challenge of preservation:– Agencies often have ‘latest version only’

mindset – historical data is simply not deemed important, or worth the efforts to retain.

• Some agencies much better – Census for one

– OMB reports also make no mention of preservation – is it assumed that someone else is taking care of this; or just not seen as important?


Why do I think all of this is important:– I now have much better awareness of how,

when, why, and where the U.S. Federal Government creates data of all types. I am a much better ‘data’ scout.

– More aware of what data the government is NOT going to provide.


Why do I think all of this is important– Better knowledge of alert services and

awareness tools.• Bureau of Labor Statistics email alerts• FRED II Update alerts• Emerging government RSS feeds in this area

– Greater awareness of long-term access and preservation issues through participation in both arenas.


A few quick tips and tools:– Get to know your institution’s government

information specialists! Ask them for additional help and support in understanding environment and issues from that perspective.

– Read the OMB Report for a quick overview – and lots of specific agencies to look at for statistics and data.


Quick Tips and Tools:– Ironically low-tech tool: Get your own copy

of the Statistical Abstract of the United States – great resource for quick assessment if the information MIGHT exist, and where to look further.


http://www.fedstats.gov– Federal Statistical Policy section hangs off

of this site http://www.firstgov.gov

– Look for ‘Data and Statistics’ on lower left of page

http://research.stlouisfed.org/ http://www.archives.gov/aad/index.html http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/topical.html


Thanks for your time and attention!

Jeff Bullington–[email protected]

discovering a profession: the accidental data librarian first data, then docs jeffrey s. bullington...

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