Going Further with Data: Improve Your Data Skills with the Data Services Specialization

Submitted by: Julia Esparza, MLS, AHIP, FMLA

One day, I got a call from a professor who needed to put data in a repository but had no clue where to look. I was able to handle his request and point him to a list of repositories. Another time, when a researcher was looking for data to compare to their surgery research data, I was able to help them find a dataset. Through helping with data collection plans, I also made other researcher connections. Before completing the Data Services Specialization (DSS) Level I training, I would have struggled to assist these researchers. Instead, my training in working with research data enabled me to handle the questions confidently.

Data management is a growing field for health information professionals [1-5]. As health information professionals, we instruct researchers in data literacy and help identify data repositories and datasets. We also help researchers set up their data collection plans, promote open science, help contribute to the reproducibility of research, and help identify places where data can be stored for future research. To accomplish these activities and help our researchers at hospitals or research institutions you must have training.

The DSS Level I and the new DSS Level II provide you with the fundamentals to perform these activities. . . and much more! Letting your employer know what you have achieved may open up new possibilities for you in your workplace

Take the time to explore what you can learn through DSS, the value of obtaining the specialization, and the requirements for the DSS Level I and II on the MLANET DSS page. Most of the Level I DSS courses are free from NNLM. Level II courses are now available with significant savings through the DSS Level II Pathway.

References:

1. Ma J, Stahl L, Knotts E. Emerging roles of health information professionals for library and information science curriculum development: a scoping review. J Med Libr Assoc. 2018 Oct;106(4):432-444. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2018.354.
2. Wheeler TR, Delgado D, Albert PJ, Ben Maamar S, Oxley PR. Transforming and extending library services by embracing technology and collaborations: A case study. Health Info Libr J. 2022 Sep;39(3):294-298. doi: 10.1111/hir.12439. Epub 2022 Jun 22.
3. Laynor G, Tagge N, Magro J, Armond M, Rau RA, Vardell E. Mapping the pathways to health sciences librarianship: reflections and future implications from an immersion session. J Med Libr Assoc. 2023 Oct 2;111(4):802-810. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2023.1645.
4. Milewska A, Wiśniewska N, Cimoszko P, Rusakow J. A survey of medical researchers indicates poor awareness of research data management processes and a role for data librarians. Health Info Libr J. 2022 Jun;39(2):132-141. doi: 10.1111/hir.12403.
5. LaPolla FWZ, Bakker CJ, Exner N, Montnech T, Surkis A, Ye H. Rigor and reproducibility instruction in academic medical libraries. J Med Libr Assoc. 2022 Jul 1;110(3):281-293. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2022.1443. Erratum in: J Med Libr Assoc. 2022 Oct 1;110(4):E34. Erratum in: J Med Libr Assoc. 2023 Oct 2;111(4):E62.