The Authority File Round-Up: December 2024

Last month's series spotlighted data sharing in the Humanities and Social Sciences and generative AI applications in the academic library.

Posted on January 14, 2025 in Blog

What constitutes as data in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS)? Why is data sharing important in fields beyond STEM? Our first TAF series of the month explored these questions and more as guests from Taylor & Francis (T&F) underlined the benefits and challenges of data sharing in HSS disciplines. Our speakers looked at the impact of the OSTP Nelson Memo, the community aspect of data sharing, and underscored how the library’s knowledge of the wider research ecosystem can aid those interested in open data practices.

Centering on another topic pertinent to academic libraries, last month’s second series featured a speaker from Clarivate to discuss generative AI. Our guest provided insight into Clarivate’s Web of Science Research Assistant, along with its Pulse of the Library Report on libraries’ approaches to AI. In addition, our speaker contemplated the balance of experimentation with human oversight and how libraries can use AI to improve workflows. We hope you find the conversations beneficial and thought-provoking.

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December’s Series

In our first series, Dr. Rebecca Taylor-Grant, Head of Open Data Initiatives, and Dr. Emily Farrell, Global Commercial Director for Open Research, both at Taylor & Francis, provided an overview of data sharing in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). Our guests explained how librarians can get involved early in the research process, providing information about data repositories and formatting. Rebecca and Emily also described the development of T&F’s HSS data sharing policy and the resources and training the publisher provides. Our speakers closed by making a case for increased partnerships between libraries and publishers to further the open data landscape. Brought to you by Taylor & Francis.

Listen to episode one: Data Sharing in the Humanities and Social Sciences: Current Landscape and Pressures

Listen to episode two: The Benefits and Challenges of HSS Data Sharing: Community, Data Sets, and Privacy

Listen to episode three: Establishing HSS Data Sharing Policies, Repositories, and Resources

Listen to episode four: The Library’s Unique Role in HSS Data Sharing

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Next, TAF featured Francesca Buckland, Vice President of Product Management for the Web of Science at Clarivate. Francesca detailed Clarivate’s approach to AI products and the importance of prioritizing ethics and transparency. In particular, Francesca walked through the Web of Science Research Assistant and the ways it benefits the research workflow. Our guest also covered AI literacy and how academic librarians can use AI to better support their libraries’ missions. Brought to you by Clarivate.

Listen to the episode: GenAI in Academic Libraries: Exploring AI-Driven Scholarship and Clarivate’s Web of Science Research Assistant

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What’s Coming Up in January

This month Digital Initiatives Librarian Eric Lease Morgan sits down with TAF to discuss library technology and the development of the group Code4Lib. Eric chronicles his 40 years of work in librarianship and technology milestones he’s observed during his time in the field. Eric also describes the Distant Reader, a tool that helps readers easily analyze large volumes of literature. Advocating for the importance of encouraging play, Eric touts the value of innovation while also addressing the challenge of prioritizing information in the age of AI. Make sure to check out the episode here.

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You can find more episodes on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for listening! See you next month.

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