Scientists as Librarians: Subject Expertise Scientists as Librarians: Subject Expertise in Cornell University Librariesin Cornell University Libraries

Medha Devare, PhDMedha Devare, PhD

Bioinformatics and Life Sciences SpecialistBioinformatics and Life Sciences SpecialistAlbert R. Mann Library, Cornell UniversityAlbert R. Mann Library, Cornell University

FIBS: Frontiers in Information Provision for the Bio- and Environmental SciencesFIBS: Frontiers in Information Provision for the Bio- and Environmental Sciences

January 25, 2007January 25, 2007

Why science expertise in the library?

• Type of information (computational advances)Type of information (computational advances)

• Vast quantities of information (data)Vast quantities of information (data)

• Shrinking research funding; increasing costsShrinking research funding; increasing costs

• Library as a “neutral”, central entityLibrary as a “neutral”, central entity

• Library able to provide continuityLibrary able to provide continuity

The primary example…

• Bioinformatics

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

• Research data

• Chemistry

Science librarian expertise at CUL

What do subject experts provide?

• Subject reference/consultation supportSubject reference/consultation support

• Instructional program developmentInstructional program development

• Collection developmentCollection development

• Special project supportSpecial project support

• OutreachOutreach

What is bioinformatics?

• computational tools and approachescomputational tools and approaches

• expand use, acquisition, visualization, expand use, acquisition, visualization, analysis, organization and archiving of biological dataanalysis, organization and archiving of biological data

[Bioinformatics at the NIH, 2001][Bioinformatics at the NIH, 2001]http://grants.nih.gov/grants/bistic/bistic.cfm

CUL: Bioinformatics Specialist

• Subject reference/consultation supportSubject reference/consultation support

• Instructional program developmentInstructional program development

library workshop serieslibrary workshop series

training for library stafftraining for library staff

guest lectures in coursesguest lectures in courses

course development / participationcourse development / participation

VIVO

CALS portal

World Bank project (IAASTD)World Bank project (IAASTD)

Indo – US Agriculture Knowledge Indo – US Agriculture Knowledge InitiativeInitiative

Bioinformatics Specialist

• Special projects/committeesSpecial projects/committees

• ResearchResearch

Bioinformatics Specialist

• Outreach Outreach

GIS / Research Data Librarians

• Subject reference/consultation supportSubject reference/consultation support

• Instructional program developmentInstructional program development library workshop serieslibrary workshop series

• Collection developmentCollection development

• OutreachOutreach

CALS portal

provide services for data collection / archiving provide services for data collection / archiving

develop and coordinate library’s spatial data develop and coordinate library’s spatial data services, particularly the Cornell University services, particularly the Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR)Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR)

develop delivery systems for metadata and develop delivery systems for metadata and content using geospatial data applicationscontent using geospatial data applications

GIS / Research Data Librarians

• ProjectsProjects

Cornell University Geospatial Information Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR) Repository (CUGIR)

GIS / Research Data Librarians

• Online geospatial data and metadata repository for New York State, coordinate with NYS GIS Clearinghouse

• Emphasis on natural features relevant to agriculture, ecology, natural resources, human-environment interactions

• Projects: GIS LibrarianProjects: GIS Librarian

• Projects: Research Data LibrarianProjects: Research Data Librarian

Upper Susquehanna River Basin projectUpper Susquehanna River Basin project

GIS / Research Data Librarians

• Document data sets (Ecological Metadata Language)

• Deposit and preserve data sets in Cornell’s digital repository, DSpace

• Create a public research portal, with background information, research plans, results, and data

Objective: Provide a way for the public to learn about the scientific goals and results of the project. 

Approach:

Thank you!Thank you!