Training subject librarians to provide data services

Many academic data service librarians work among colleagues who specialize in particular subjects. These subject librarians are experts in their subject areas and maintain close relationships with users in their departments. Given the interdisciplinary nature of data, involving them in providing data services provides an opportunity to leverage their expertise and reach a broader base of potential users. Thus, the MIT Data Services Librarian initiated a project to train subject librarians on data services so that they could: - provide improved data reference service, - refer users to related campus resources, - improve coverage of data in their instruction sessions, and - discuss with their departmental faculty the Libraries' projects regarding data collections and services for data producers. The presenter will discuss the development and implementation of the program, plans for ongoing training, and suggestions for involving subject librarians at other universities.