Amy Affelt - The Accidental Data Scientist. Big Data Applications and Opportunities for Librarians and Information...

A generation ago, librarians and information specialists could be forgiven for not knowing the ways that the internet would disrupt their institutions and their professional lives. They dont have that excuse today as they face the next revolutions in the emergence of Big Data and the Internet of Things. Amy Affelt has spelled out the implications here in a volume that is as practical as it is wise.

Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Research Center Internet Project

If youre a librarian or information scientist, this book will introduce you to the key concepts and terminology you need to understand Big Data.

Daniel Tunkelang, Head of Search Quality, LinkedIn

A practical, easy-to-understand guide that lets librarians and information professionals leverage their transferable skills into Big Data knowledge and become expert guides on a career path that promises to be hot for years to come.

Deborah Hunt, Past President, Special Libraries Association, and Director, Mechanics Institute Library

Librarians skills, values, and knowledge around information management make us the perfect fit for the needs of the Big Data movement. Amy Affelts timely book shows the how and why for librarians in an interesting and understandable way.

Bonnie Tijerina, Fellow, Data and Society Research Institute

A much-needed call to action to ensure that librarians retain their essential role as guides, curators, and knowledgeable experts as every aspect of our lives becomes increasingly data driven. I highly recommend this book as essential reading for anyone about to jump down the Big Data rabbit hole!

Rick Smolan, co-creator, The Human Face of Big Data

A pressing call to action for librarians to engage with Big Data. The rich sources Affelt draws upon enrich and expand our understanding of the world of Big Data and how we, as information professionals, can play an important role in a world of exponentially increasing amounts and varieties of data.

Kathryn J. Deiss, Content Strategist, Association of College & Research Libraries, American Library Association

Part librarian manifesto, part how-to guide, The Accidental Data Scientist makes the convincing case that librarians have been playing many critical roles expected of the modern and much-hyped data scientist, emphasizing the often undervalued importance of data verification and data integrity.

Dr. Cathy ONeil, Director, The Lede Program, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism; data scientist, author, and daily blogger at mathbabe.org

First Printing

The Accidental Data Scientist

Copyright 2015 by Amy Affelt

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Information Today, Inc., 143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055.

Publishers Note: The author and publisher have taken care in the preparation of this book but make no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the use of the information or programs contained herein.

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Information Today, Inc., was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

The views and opinions expressed in this book are the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of her employer or the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Affelt, Amy L., 1970

The accidental data scientist : big data applications and opportunities for librarians and information professionals / by Amy L. Affelt.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-57387-511-0

1. Librarians--Effect of technological innovations on. 2. Library science--Vocational guidance. 3. Information science--Vocational guidance. 4. Big data. 5. Data libraries. 6. Database searching. 7. Electronic information resource literacy. I. Title.

Z682.35.T43A38 2015

020.23--dc23

2014037859

Printed and bound in the United States of America

President and CEO: Thomas H. Hogan, Sr.

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher: John B. Bryans

Project Editor: Theresa Cramer

Associate Editor: Beverly Michaels

Production Manager: Norma Neimeister

Book Designer: Jennifer Burmood

Cover Designer: Ashlee Caruolo

www.infotoday.com

For my father, Gerald, my mother, Carol,
and my husband, Michael