Charter
This charter outlines the mission, partners,
goals, scope, and proposed
services of the Boston College Libraries Statistical Data Catalog - Local Server Access.
Mission:
The mission of the Statistical Data Catalog - Local Server Access (VDC) is to significantly
enhance quantitative research at Boston College by consolidating
access to data collections, analytical software and consulting
services supporting quantitative research across disciplines.
The VDC will facilitate communication and collaboration among
research support groups on campus to develop distributed virtual
collections of data, software and documentation. The VDC will
coordinate standards and procedures for purchasing, processing,
organizing, maintaining, archiving and providing access to data
collections.
Research support groups contributing to the Center include Research
Services, Techology and the FMRC and specifically the GSA program.
The group will also work closely with the Dean And Associate Vice
President For Research, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Partners:
Barbara Mento, Manager, Boston College Libraries
Statistical Data Catalog - Local Server Access
Ted Gaiser, Director, Research
Services, Technology
Christopher F. Baum, Associate Professor, Economics Department
and FMRC Moderator of the Graduate
Statistical Assistant Program
Goals:
The goal of the Statistical Data Catalog - Local Server Access is to strengthen the University's
support for quantitative research by identifying, purchasing and
distributing data sets in a user friendly way, regardless of platform,
and by facilitating the delivery of data support services throughout
the university. The Center will facilitate collaboration across
disciplines among those working with the data.
Scope:
The Statistical Data Catalog - Local Server Access will support the acquisition and distribution
of U.S. and international data. Access to acquired data will extend
to the Boston College Community and will be subject to restrictions
as designated by the issuing agency. The Center will also include
access to freely distributed data which supports research interests
at Boston College.
Proposed Services:
- Coordinate information to facilitate data access and support
via the web through a Statistical Data Catalog - Local Server Access web pages.
- Prioritize the distribution of data via the web. Create standard
for distribution of data to make easily accessible regardless
of platform. Create documentation for alternative access when
necessary.
- Standardize Data Acquisitions Management.
All data requests will be processed in conjunction with the
partners to insure adequate support, documentation and delivery
and meet collection goals. Forms similar to the ICPSR request
form (Request
ICPSR Data ) will be developed to build a database of data
requests to assist in establishing priorities, tracking data
stakeholders and providing better overall data maintenance and
for projecting future hardware and software needs.
- Build better access to metadata regarding data collections.
Further develop the Data
Resources Catalog
- Develop additional guides and documenation to support identification
of data sources for purchase and access. Research
Guide: Statistical Sources
- Distributed Codebooks and Guidebooks
Codebooks and documentation will be distributed electronically
whenever possible. Otherwise they will be made available through
O'Neill Library whenever possible.http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/tvp/research/Researchdoc.shtml
- Provide Computational Consulting for Faculty and Students
Identify support resources available to faculty and students
GSA and Research
Services
- Software Access
Provide current news and information about available software
supporting research i.e.
Research and Statistics on the Desktop
- Research Workshops
Advertise training opportunities on campus and beyond
Boston
College ResearchWorkshops; ICPSR
Identify additional training needs.
- Survey faculty and students regarding data acquisition and
support needs.
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