U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

The NGGDPP's Best Practices in Data Preservation Project

Brian BuczkowskiU.S. Geological SurveyCoastal and Marine Geology ProgramNational Data Preservation Program

Development of the Best Practices project

Background and Goals National Research Council report: Geoscience Data and

Collections: National Resources in Peril Energy Policy Act (Public Law 109-58, Section 351) Implementation Plan for the NGGDPP

“establish minimum standards and best practices for the preservation and archiving of … geologic data and collections”

“establish guidelines for the proper preservation of physical samples, as well as original data and derived information”

“coordinate efforts with other organizations that are dedicated to the exchange of information in the geosciences”

Where to begin?

1. Define scope of project What are we trying to accomplish? Our mission statement

2. Investigate standards Look at needs and practices of the Data Preservation

community

3. Identify Best Practices Once we know process of preserving data and making

them available...

Scope of the Best Practices project

Provide Community Resource Reference material Forum for discussion Community contribution

Extent of “Community” Federal Agencies State Geological Surveys Academia Industry

Developing standards

What are Standards?“something used as a measure, norm or model in comparative evaluations; a required or agreed level of quality or attainment.”

National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museums, 2008

Reflect broadly accepted views Reflect areas where things actually go wrong Change over time

Community Derived

Identifying Best Practices

What are “Best Practices?” Carries an implication of the final answer? The Best way of doing things?

A means to seek improved and applied methods Lead to the development of

newer, better strategies for data and geoscience sample management

Bringing it all together

Communityof

Practice

Common Purpose

Forum forDialog

ShareExperiences

Common Strategies

Standard Methods and

Knowledge

Adapted from Professional Development for Chinese National Teachers of Englishhttp://masters.bilbea.com/extras/Chinese_teacher_PD/Chinese_teacher_PD_final.html accessed 21 October 2010

Identify Best Practices

Online platform

myUSGShttps://my.usgs.gov/

Discussion Forum Document Sharing Wiki Space Subscriptions

*DISCLAIMER* While the U.S. Geological Survey has initiated, and maintains this Best Practices Project, it is important to note that any use of trade names or references to products is strictly for descriptive purposes only and does not imply any endorsement by the United States Government.

Data Preservation topics

Theme Areas Physical Samples Paper and Analog Records Digital Records Updating Formats Cataloging and Metadata Risk Management Communication and Outreach Facilities and Infrastructure

Topic structure

Look at Physical SamplesBackground information Identify standards Look at common issuesHighlight Best PracticesProvide resources

Ideas for further development

Alternate Platforms MediaWiki (http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki)

“a free software open source wiki package written in PHP, originally for use on Wikipedia. It is now used by several other projects of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation and by many other wikis, including this website, the home of MediaWiki.”

Using a combination of resources Delicious from Yahoo! for bookmark sharing Social Networking sites for contact and collaboration Mendeley for reference management and sharing

Online communitiesIssues

Content monitoring Who regulates what’s posted?

Access How open to the public is it?

CostHostingMaintenance

Verify links, etc.

Membership in myUSGS BP community

Lessons learned

Make sure the train keeps moving once it’s left the station Community involvement Regular meetings/updates

Identify target audiences/groups to solicit information from Potential resources for participation