Data from Job Analyses of Earth Science Data Librarians and Data Managers

Information professionals working with science data find, access, and make interoperable machine-actionable data for scientists across domains and organizations. Data librarians and data managers facilitate scientific advancement and the requisite skills required to perform their work changes with technology. This study’s purpose is to capture the skills of science data librarians and data managers by interviewing current job incumbents. Job analysis interviews were conducted of twelve participants –six librarians and six data managers—to assess the types and frequencies of job tasks. Science data managers identified tasks related to communication, including collaboration, teaching, and project management activities. Data specific tasks included data discovery, processing and curation, which require an understanding of the data, technology, and information infrastructures to support data use, re-use and preservation. Most respondents had formal science education, but only five had a master’s degree in information sciences. Most of the knowledge, skills, and abilities for these workers were acquired through on-the-job experience, but future professionals in this career may benefit from tailored education informed through job analyses