OPEN DATA: the library’s role as

data provider & producer

Colleen BeardMap, Data & GIS

Library

The Library as data provider:

Mandate: To support teaching and research at Brock University/Community

• WHERE are the appropriate and quality open data sources?

• HOW do I extract the data that is relevant? • Navigating websites for data is a skill!

• WHAT can I do with this data?

Census income data for St. Catharines

1934 digital air photo initiative

The Library as data creator:

Community engagement: revealing stories of the past… discovery of a shipwreck on the 3rd Welland Canal

1955 1986 2007

Student engagement: Using GIS-ready maps to determine urban growth over time…

2013 image

The use of a 1855 Welland Canal map overlay to position the arena in the historical landscape.

Industry engagement:

Creating historical GIS data – St. Catharines 1911 road network

(Map of the City of St. Catharines, 1911)

Research data management:

• Where is the data that is generated from data?

• Libraries are taking a leading role with data management and open access

• Goal: Data that is generated from gov funded research will be accessible through open access portals

A few take-aways…

• Open Data movement is only as good as the data quality it provides.

• Libraries can be an influential resource for “assisting” with open data discovery, analysis, and visualization

• OPEN [your] DATA… good things happen when you share!