Data Day to Day: building a community of expertise to address data skills gaps in an academic medical center

• Published in: Journal of the Medical Library Association Vol. 105; no. 2; pp. 185 - 191
• Main Authors: Surkis, Alisa, LaPolla, Fred Willie Zametkin, Contaxis, Nicole, Read, Kevin B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Medical Library Association 01-04-2017; University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
• Subjects: Academic libraries; Academic Medical Centers; Case Study; Data Management; Data Science; Data Visualization; Digital curation; Health sciences; Humans; Information management; Information Storage and Retrieval; Learning; Library Services; Medical centers; Medical libraries; Methods; New York; Professional Competence; Research data management; Services; User services; United States
• ISSN: 1536-5050; 1558-9439
• DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2017.35

The New York University Health Sciences Library data services team had developed educational material for research data management and data visualization and had been offering classes at the request of departments, research groups, and training programs, but many members of the medical center were unaware of these library data services. There were also indications of data skills gaps in these subject areas and other data-related topics.
The data services team enlisted instructors from across the medical center with data expertise to teach in a series of classes hosted by the library. We hosted eight classes branded as a series called "Data Day to Day." Seven instructors from four units in the medical center, including the library, taught the classes. A multipronged outreach approach resulted in high turnout. Evaluations indicated that attendees were very satisfied with the instruction, would use the skills learned, and were interested in future classes.
Data Day to Day met previously unaddressed data skills gaps. Collaborating with outside instructors allowed the library to serve as a hub for a broad range of data instruction and to raise awareness of library services. We plan to offer the series three times in the coming year with an expanding roster of classes.