Social Science Data Librarian Provides Specialized GIS Support
University of Houston faculty and researchers have a new, central resource for data-related services.
Joshua Been joins the UH Libraries as the new social science data librarian, providing expert support for researchers working with geospatial, numeric and other data.
Joshua Been joins the UH Libraries as the new social science data librarian in the department of Liaison Services, a position that was created to provide expert support for researchers working with geospatial, numeric and other data.
The University has a pressing need for centralized support in geographic information systems (GIS) data acquisition, analysis and visualization. UH Libraries is pleased to offer high-level research support and data-related services for faculty and students of all disciplines across campus.
Liaison Services is currently assessing the needs of social science departments that are using GIS and data visualization tools and methodologies, specifically, political science, economics and social work. Been will work to create new services and tools based on department feedback and course needs.
“Our data acquisition component puts the Libraries in a strategic position to assist faculty and students of all disciplines,” Been said. “We can help faculty and students get the data they need, clean the data, analyze it and visualize it.” The Libraries’ turnkey data support includes the provision of access to many subscription databases, including referenceUSA, Data-Planet and Social Explorer, to name a few.
Going further, data visualization tools give researchers new and innovative ways to tell stories and illustrations with graphics. Common tools for presenting data are the built-in graphic charts in Excel or SPSS, yet mapping and plotting data allows the researcher to spot trends or other surprising facets that a spreadsheet just can’t match.
“The graphing capabilities of Excel are quite powerful,” Been said. “However, there are so many new tools that are designed to increase our ability to create a visualization that matches our imagination. Some of these tools can create amazing visualizations within minutes of opening the application, while others may require some coding. Basically, it makes data fun.”
New services include open demos and hands-on workshops beginning in Fall 2014, conducted in the MD Anderson Library with customized exercises in GIS and data visualization for students. Additionally, users of the Libraries will have a new research guide detailing GIS and data visualization services, tools and methods. Dedicated office hours will be open for students to receive personalized assistance.