A Journal for the "Accidental Data Professional in a Library"?

A group of data professionals who work in libraries have expressed interest in a publication that addresses library issues related to numeric data resources. This poll is to explore the level of interest in a publication directed specifically to this audience.

This survey is completely voluntary and confidential. No identifying numbers, names or other personal information will be recorded in any fashion.

It will take about twenty minutes to answer the 11 main questions, and two demographic questions.

Please respond by Friday, April 21st

If you answer "no" to question 1, please at least answer question 2. Please DO submit the survey! It will help us put positive responses in context. Thanks!

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1. Do you think you would benefit from a publication directed specifically to data professionals working in library environments? Please elaborate.

Yes No

2. What specific publications do you regularly read to get information about numeric data? (Interpret “publications” broadly: journals, newsletters, blogs, etc. whether print or electronic—however you get information about data.)

3. To what specific publications do you already contribute material (or effort) about data? (Interpret “publications” broadly: journals, newsletters, blogs, etc. whether print or electronic—whatever you write for, edit or otherwise contribute to producing)

Please note for each

• how often you contribute (or if you contribute on an on-going basis), and
• what your contribution has been (writing, editing, reviewing, etc.).

4. What content would be most important to you? Please rate each of the following types of content by level of importance to you, with 5 being most important and 1 being least important.

Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Reviews of print resources, e.g., guides to research, statistical resources, etc.
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Reviews of online data sources, e.g., new web sites or databases
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Reviews of data tools (StatCrunch.com, tools in shodor.org’s catalog, Stat Transfer, etc.)
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Discussions of metadata trends & initiatives
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Discussions of service issues
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Discussions of collaborations with faculty
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Discussions of collection management issues, including preservation
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Discussions of organization and funding models for numeric digital libraries and/or data services
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Training exercises for you to learn how to find data or use tools (with step-by-step answers)
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Numeracy and learning objects to help you teach students/researchers
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Survey of research issues in specific disciplines, e.g., what are the major data sets in XX discipline? What issues or pitfalls should a researcher be aware of with that data? What are the “elephants in the living room” that any researcher in that discipline would know that a librarian should be aware of? What kinds of topics are predominant in the current research?
Rate 5 - very important 4 3 2 1 - not important Other (please specify):

5. There are two likely options for us: either we will establish a new publication all our own; or, if enthusiasm and support of the audience is not sufficient for that, we will negotiate with an established journal to grant us regular space and possibly our own editor. Partly this depends on what you, the audience, would like to read and partly it depends on what you are willing to commit to contributing. To give us an idea what to try to aim for:

How often would you like to see this content? (Please comment if you like.)

Monthly Quarterly Semi-annually

How much content would you like to see? (Please comment if you like.)

Newsletter Journal Regular feature in another journal

6. Is it important to you that some or all of the content of such a journal be peer reviewed? Please elaborate.

Yes No

7. If this publication is created, which of the following activities would you be likely to participate in within the next three years? Please check all that apply.

Reading the publication
Writing an article
Reviewing submissions from peers
Editing articles
Web support (hosting or maintaining site)
Design/layout support
Participation in Editorial Board (e.g., soliciting articles, planning issue content, etc.)
Other technical support, e.g., researching software options for content management
Other (please specify):

8. Please list any particular type of article that you would like to read.

9. Please list any particular type of article that you would like to write.

10. If you would like to get involved, include a note about which tasks most interest you.

11. If you are not a member of IASSIST, why not?

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Demographics

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1. What is your job title?

2. What is your terminal degree? Please also list any/all post-baccalaureate degrees.