Tag Archives: Did You Know?

UC Data Day, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 5, to focus on bias, miscommunication and equity in data

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UC Data Day 2021, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, will offer online panel discussions and a keynote address by Heather Krause, founder of We All Count and the Data Equity Framework, centered around the theme of bias, miscommunication and equity in data. The event will also include a week-long virtual screening of the documentary film Coded Bias and an afternoon panel discussion on Good vs Bad AI.

In order for data to be equitable, the processes involved in the data life cycle must consider the ethical nuances of each step in the process. Careful consideration must be paid to the way that we collect, analyze, interpret and distribute data in order to ensure that bias is not integrated (consciously or unconsciously) into the process. Today we are barraged with information, couched as fact, that is misleading, potentially harmful and that is replete with biases. These miscommunications can lead to the reinforcement of negative stereotypes, poor decision making, social upheaval and mistrust of vetted, factual information. Social Media is often a “mixed bag” of facts and fiction, and many people have difficulty navigating and drawing the line between them. UC Data Day 2021 will take aim at data miscommunication and bias and discuss ways in which data can be re-examined through an equity lens.

More information about Data Days past and present, along with a link for registration, is available on the Data Day website.

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In October of 2020, we celebrated our 5th Annual Data Day event. As we prepare for subsequent similar events, we would like to assess the impact of our previous events on those that attended. We are asking that if you have attended any Data Day event in the past that you would kindly take a few moments to participate in a survey to assess your experiences. Your responses will be confidential unless you choose to submit your contact information for further inquiries regarding the events.

Please use this link to access the survey: https://redcap.link/ucdataday. Please know that your feedback is very important to us, and we appreciate your time filling out the survey.

Follow the Cincinnati Business Beat with the Business Courier!

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Did you know that UC Library has a subscription to the Cincinnati Business Courier Online? The Business Courier is a weekly newspaper that covers Cincinnati business news. It also covers politics and the local economy. The weekly journal is read by more than 50,000 business professionals. The Courier also produces special reports on topics and trends of interest to the business community, including the annual compilation of Top 25 Lists called the Book of Lists. 

The business courier is also a helpful research tool. It can be difficult to find information on smaller local privately owned companies. However, many times these companies are mentioned in news articles, top 25 lists, and executive’s profiles. It can also be searched to find out local industry trends and the local laws and regulations that are impacting business. Try searching for local companies like Skyline or Rhinegeist and see what you can find compared to other company databases! 

UC affiliates can access the full online version of the Cincinnati business courier through the library website. To find out more on how to access and search the Business Courier as well as where to find the Book of Lists check out this research guide. 

Do You Miss Statista?

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Last Fall, UC Libraries made the tough decision to break up with our Statista subscription.  The decision came down to two reasons: 

  1. Statista’s price rose over 200% in the past two years
  2. More importantly, Statista’s data is accessible from other vendors and resources.  The Statista  platform serves as a portal to finding statistics. Basically, subscribers pay for ease of access to a  lot of statistics. Most of these statistics come from government resources, industry associations, and other vendors of statistical information.  

A few examples:  

  1. Data Planet
    Touted as the “largest repository of standardized and structured statistical data”. It has 13.5 billion datasets, pulls from over 90 data providers and covers 16 major subject categories. It also provides users with tutorials on how to analyze data and incorporate it into their research. 
  2. US Census
    One of the largest producers of social and economic data and statistics. The economic census includes Trade, Manufacturing, Construction, Financial, Insurance and Real Estate statistics. 
  3. FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)
    Economic data out of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank including inflation rate, consumer price index, unemployment rate, and more. FRED also provides a lot of teaching resources for economic data.  
  4. Market Research Reports from IBIS, Mintel, Euromonitor and many more!
    UC Libraries subscribes to many market research databases.  These reports provide domestic and international industry level data as well as consumer demographics and statistics. 

These databases and resources are accessible through UC Libraries and UC’s research guides. These resources are being updated these through the Summer, so please check back to see what’s new. 

If you are looking for something specific, please think of Maggie Patel (UC’s Business and Data Analytics Librarian) as your statistical matchmaker and she will work with you to find the appropriate resource.  You may contact her through email.

Please don’t despair if you loved Statista, there are plenty of other statistical databases in the sea.  You will improve your research skills and discover new statistical resources. Fall in love again with something new! 

Dorcas Washington takes on new role of data analytics specialist on the Research and Data Services Team

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dorcas washingtonDorcas Washington, formerly content analyst on the Content Services Team, has transitioned to the new role of data analytics specialist on the Research and Data Services (RDS) Team.

In her new role, Dorcas will provide leadership and expertise in the areas of quantitative and qualitative data analysis, as well as play a leading role in developing and executing a research reproducibility support program across disciplines. Dorcas holds a BA in mathematics, an MS in applied statistics with a concentration in bio-statistics and has recently been accepted into UC’s PhD program for environmental health: bio-statistics. In her new role, she will be able to utilize her knowledge and skill set to its fullest and to build upon her experiences gained as a member of the Content Services Team.

As data analytics specialist, Dorcas will be responsible for:

  • Leading library services related to the evaluation, manipulation and visualization of data and the use of statistical tools
  • Developing and delivering scalable research and data-related services and resources in collaboration with RDS, with the Digital Scholarship Center, and others as appropriate
  • Leading the development and implementation of consultation and instruction services for statistical and analytical methods
  • Promoting best practices for ethical and reproducible data production, analysis and dissemination
  • Developing and coding executable programs to automate processes to perform computational inquiries
  • Co-managing Informatics Lab operations within the Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library.

“I look forward to getting back to my roots of mathematics and statistics by utilizing those skills to help people further research at UC,” said Dorcas. “This position interested me because it’s doing work I enjoy with a diverse group of people (students, faculty, staff and more).”

Those interested in services, should contact RDS via e-mail askdata@uc.edu.

UC Libraries planning to begin offering access to print collection materials

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book stacksWhile all UC Libraries’ physical locations remain closed until further notice, we are finalizing plans to provide users with access to print collection materials in order to support UC teaching and research.

A print collection retrieval and pickup service is being planned to begin soon after June 8. Once all preparatory activities are completed, we will announce an official start date of the service. Library users will not be allowed inside library spaces, but will be able to request and pick up library materials in designated locations.

Details on exact timing and how to utilize the retrieval and pickup service will be forthcoming. For updated information, please visit https://libraries.uc.edu/about/covid-19.html.

In the meantime, the University of Cincinnati Libraries remains open and available online to provide users with access to library resources and services.

Chat Service Unavailable Monday, May 25

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In observance of Memorial Day, UC Libraries’ Chat reference service will not be available on Monday, May 25. We will resume normal hours, 10am-3pm, on Tuesday, May 26. Users seeking library resources on Monday, May 25, are encouraged to visit the Libraries website or Online Library for direct access to essential resources and services to enable online research and scholarly work.

UC Libraries Welcomes Madeleine Gaiser, Online Learning and Instruction Specialist at the CECH Library

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madeleine gaiserMadeleine Gaiser, the new 0nline learning and instruction specialist in the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH) Library, began (remote!) work at UC Libraries on Monday, April 20.

Madeleine is currently a Master of Science student at Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, set to graduate in May 2020. Her studies and graduate employment have afforded her some impressive experiences in supporting instruction and online learning, including classroom teaching, creating online learning objects, performing an accessibility audit and building an extensive module in Canvas. Madeleine is also the winner of IU’s Ellen Jay Information Literacy Scholarship for the 2019-20 academic year. She holds a BA in history and religious studies from Gettysburg College. She hails from the D.C. metro area.

Welcome to UC Libraries, Madeleine!

Join us for “Zorro Turns 100: The Hispanic Legacy of America’s First Superhero”

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Zorro Turns 100: The Hispanic Legacy
of America’s First Superhero

In 1919, an unknown U.S. pulp fiction writer created a masked California hero who fought for the people against tyranny. The dashing Zorro not only became America’s first superhero—he influenced the creation of Batman and other cape crusaders in years to come.

Join us to learn about Zorro’s Hispanic legacy and why, without him, we wouldn’t have today’s superhero universe.

Who:  Dr. Mauricio Espinoza, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature

When: Wednesday, October 23, 2 PM-3:30 PM

Where: Walter C. Langsam Library Digital Commons (by the Triceracopter)

Read Source to learn more about the news, events, people and happenings in UC Libraries.

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sourceRead Source, the online newsletter, to learn more about the news, events, people and happenings in UC Libraries.

In this issue of Source, Dean Xuemao Wang writes about his new role as vice provost for digital scholarship, which ties in with the article Introducing the Research @ Data Services Team.

The Libraries special collections are featured prominently in this issue with news of an exciting, surprise gift to the Neil Armstrong Commemorative Archives, promotion of a lecture series celebrating the digitization of the Albert B. Sabin Research Notebooks, and an announcement of a new UC exhibit featuring the Special Collections of four UC Libraries.

This fall brings new faces and new publications from the University of Cincinnati Press, along with the conclusion of the university’s Bicentennial celebration, which university archivist and head of the Archives and Rare Books Library Kevin Grace uses as the occasion to recount a gift from William A. Procter that was instrumental to the libraries.

Lastly, we announce that the Cecil Striker Society Annual Lecture is now our first fully endowed annual lecture.

Read these articles, as well as past issues, on the web at http://libapps.libraries.uc.edu/source/ and via e-mail. To receive Source via e-mail, contact melissa.norris@uc.edu to be added to the mailing list.

Missing Game of Thrones? Check Out the Board Game in the STRC

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game of thronesThe Student Technology Resources Center (STRC), located on the fourth floor of the Walter C. Langsam Library, has collaborated with the UC Gaming Club to be named an official Game Lab. As such, the STRC currently lends out approximately 20 board and card games with more added weekly. The newest board game, Game of Thrones, promises to be popular.

In addition to board and card games, UC students can also borrow a game console (Atari, Nintendo, Sega or the Nintendo switch) on a cart with a monitor. Available for check out at the STRC, all that is needed is a UC ID.

Check out the new Games of Thrones board game and create the ending you want.

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