IASSIST 2006

Data Services Awareness and Use Survey

What We Learned about Promoting Data Services

Eleanor Readeread@utk.edu

IASSIST 2006

Agenda Background Results on awareness and

promotion Promotion and outreach activities Other ideas? What works for you?

IASSIST 2006

Background Hired Data Services Librarian in

2000 Proactive outreach and promotion Survey in 2003 re data users and

awareness of services www.lib.utk.edu/refs/data/survey.pdf

IASSIST 2006

Awareness Results 43% were aware of Data Services

Faculty 36%, Doctoral 44%, Masters 47% 19% knew about ICPSR

Faculty 31%, Doctoral 23%, Masters 11% Comments

“I believe this will aid my research tremendously now that I know this service is available.”

“…e-mails about services would be helpful to busy graduate students. There is so little time to adjust at the beginning, that reminders would be helpful.”

“You need to do a better job of increasing awareness of these services… I’ve never heard of these services.”

IASSIST 2006

Promotion/Outreach: New E-mail network

Faculty and graduate students 14 departments Introduction to services Announcements of workshops and

ICPSR summer program Very effective!

IASSIST 2006

Promotion/Outreach: Expanded

Data workshops Increased from one per semester to 2-

3 ICPSR, AFF, Census from ICPSR, GSS ICPSR every fall, spring, and summer

First summer workshop in 2005, largest attendance ever

Will expand to include new international databases

IASSIST 2006

Promotion/Outreach: Ongoing Teaching classes Social science newsletter Data/GIS users forum Statistical Consulting Center

partnership Data Services website Word of mouth

IASSIST 2006

What Works for You?