Mathew Burton, PhD, is Assistant Professor at the School of Computing and Information, University of Pittsburgh. His presentation was about the Data Science in Libraries project, which explores the challenges associated with implementing data science within diverse library environments. They see data science skills as a way to improve internal data collection and use as well as an extension to research data management services. When they began they were especially interested in the skills gap and training opportunities (both formal and informal) that exist for librarians and ischool students, as well as the the management gap (which they see as the ability of library managers to understand and value the benefits of in-house data science skills and to provide organizational and managerial support).

The Data Science in Libraries Project is funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and led by Matt Burton and Liz Lyon, School of Computing & Information, University of Pittsburgh; Chris Erdmann, North Carolina State University; and Bonnie Tijerina, Data & Society. A project report is available from a link in the presentation.