1. Scientists as Librarians: Subject Expertise in Cornell University Libraries Medha Devare, PhD Bioinformatics and Life Sciences Specialist Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University FIBS: Frontiers in Information Provision for the Bio- and Environmental Sciences January 25, 2007 January 25, 2007

2. Why science expertise in the library? Type of information (computational advances)Type of information (computational advances) Vast quantities of information (data)Vast quantities of information (data) Shrinking research funding; increasing costsShrinking research funding; increasing costs Library as a “neutral”, central entityLibrary as a “neutral”, central entity Library able to provide continuityLibrary able to provide continuity

3. The primary example…

4. Bioinformatics Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Research data Chemistry Science librarian expertise at CUL

5. What do subject experts provide? Subject reference/consultation supportSubject reference/consultation support Instructional program developmentInstructional program development Collection developmentCollection development Special project supportSpecial project support OutreachOutreach

6. What is bioinformatics? computational tools and approachescomputational tools and approaches expand use, acquisition, visualization,expand use, acquisition, visualization, analysis, organization and archiving of biological data [Bioinformatics at the NIH, 2001] http://grants.nih.gov/grants/bistic/bistic.cfm http://grants.nih.gov/grants/bistic/bistic.cfm

7. CUL: Bioinformatics Specialist Subject reference/consultation supportSubject reference/consultation support Instructional program developmentInstructional program development  library workshop series  training for library staff  guest lectures in courses  course development / participation

8.  VIVO VIVO  CALS portal CALS portalCALS portal  World Bank project (IAASTD)  Indo – US Agriculture Knowledge Initiative Bioinformatics Specialist Special projects/committees Special projects/committees

9. ResearchResearch Bioinformatics Specialist Outreach Outreach

10. GIS / Research Data Librarians Subject reference/consultation supportSubject reference/consultation support Instructional program developmentInstructional program development  library workshop series Collection developmentCollection development Outreach Outreach

11.  CALS portal CALS portalCALS portal  provide services for data collection / archiving  develop and coordinate library’s spatial data services, particularly the Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR)  develop delivery systems for metadata and content using geospatial data applications GIS / Research Data Librarians Projects

12. Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR) GIS / Research Data Librarians Online geospatial data and metadata repository for New York State, coordinate with NYS GIS Clearinghouse Emphasis on natural features relevant to agriculture, ecology, natural resources, human-environment interactions Projects: GIS Librarian

13. Projects: Research Data Librarian Projects: Research Data Librarian  Upper Susquehanna River Basin project GIS / Research Data Librarians Document data sets (Ecological Metadata Language) Deposit and preserve data sets in Cornell’s digital repository, DSpace Create a public research portal, with background information, research plans, results, and data Objective: Provide a way for the public to learn about the scientific goals and results of the project. Approach:

14. Thank you!