The importance of data has never been greater. There has been a growing concern with the skills required to exploit the data surfeit; the ability to collect, compute and crunch data, for economic, social and scientific purposes. This book, written by two working data librarians based at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh aims to help fill this skills gap by providing a nuts and bolts guide to research data support.

'The Data Librarian's Handbook' draws on a combination of over 30 years experience providing data support services to create the must-read book for all entrants to this field. This book zooms in to the actual library service level, where the interaction between the researcher and the librarian takes place. Both engaging and practical, this book draws the reader in through story-telling and suggested activities, linking concepts from one chapter to another.

This book is for the practising data librarian, possibly new in their post with little experience of providing data support. It is also for managers and policy-makers, public service librarians, research data management coordinators and data support staff. It will also appeal to students and lecturers in iSchools and other library and information degree programmes where academic research support is taught. The importance of data has never been greater. There has been a growing concern with the ‘skills gap’ required to exploit the data surfeit; the ability to collect, compute and crunch data, for economic, social and scientific purposes. This book, written by two working data librarians based at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh aims to help fill this skills gap by providing a nuts and bolts guide to research data support. The Data Librarian’s Handbook draws on a combination of over 30 years’ experience providing data support services to create the ‘must-read’ book for all entrants to this field. This book ‘zooms in’ to the actual library service level, where the interaction between the researcher and the librarian takes place. Both engaging and practical, this book draws the reader in through story-telling and suggested activities, linking concepts from one chapter to another. This book is for the practising data librarian, possibly new in their post with little experience of providing data support. It is also for managers and policy-makers, public service librarians, research data management “coordinators” and data support staff. It will also appeal to students and lecturers in iSchools and other library and information degree programmes where academic research support is taught.

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The Data Librarian’s Handbook covers a large amount of interesting terrain in thoughtful and accessible ways. It is both essential for any information professional interested in data and their management, and is also indicative of the increasing – and increasingly varied – role that data and data management play in libraries and more broadly across academia.

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Included are examples and case studies along with takeaways and reflective questions at the end of each chapter. Because of these features, this work would make for a helpful teaching tool for lecturers at information schools...Highly recommended for anyone just getting started in working with data.

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This book does an excellent job of both reflecting on where data libraries have been and gazing ahead to where they should be. It is recommended reading for existing and aspiring data librarians, and a worthy handbook to keep at one’s side.

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The Data Librarian's Handbook is very highly recommended for the practicing data librarian, those new in their post with little experience of providing data support. The Data Librarian's Handbook will also prove to be an invaluable reference for managers and policymakers, public service librarians, research data management coordinators and data support staff. The Data Librarian's Handbook is unreservedly recommended as a core addition to community, governmental, and academic Library Science collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

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The tone of the writing is straightforward, engaging and accessible, and there are practical suggestions throughout the text, including some very useful sets of bullet-pointed lists. An advantage is that the authors have experience in and address both the US and European/British contexts, which gives this work a more international scope than some others...In sum, this book provides a valuable reference source both for the beginner and the more experienced practitioner, giving background and suggestions for practice that may be new to them. I highly recommend it!