Fellows present on their initiatives

NCSU Libraries Fellows Nushrat Khan, Pete Schreiner, Danica Lewis, and Hannah Rainey presented on their Strategic Initiatives this spring.

Khan talked on “Exploring Linked Data and Semantic Web,” an effort to create new means of exposing the rich metadata created and managed throughout the Libraries. The main areas of investigation are piloting linked data consumption using Organization Name Linked Data (ONLD), evaluating local collections to serve as candidates for exposure using linked data, and performing outreach with innovative metadata communities for potential partnership.

Schreiner presented on “Creating VR/Emerging Technology Spaces,” describing the work that went into creating the Libraries’ VR program. He covered the whole process, from research into requirements and hardware, to the debut of VR and other items in tech lending, through the planning of spaces, to the fall 2017 launch of the VR Studio. Schreiner also updated staff on impact evaluations and program futures.

Lewis spoke about “Libraries and Public Science: Supporting the Broader Impacts of Research,” an effort to develop a program of support for researchers needing to address the broader impacts requirements of funding agencies. The focus has been on the development of web resources linking researchers with campus programs and support, and promoting library spaces and programs as public science and science communication resources.

Rainey’s “Effective Stewardship of Library Data Initiative” responds to the increase in data collection for ongoing analysis and assessment by ensuring data security compliance with federal, state, campus, and professional guidelines. Outcomes included an inventory of internally managed sources that collect and store sensitive data, best practices training and documentation for Libraries staff, and recommendations for sustainable security and privacy compliance.