Decentralized QA/QC for NatureBib

1. 2008 GIS / Data Management Conference Decentralized QA/QCfor NatureBib How good is good enough? Kathy Dratch NRPC, NatureBib Data Manager

2. What is NatureBib? • One of the 12 natural resource inventories of the Natural Resource Challenge program • Goal: to provide scientific information to improve the management of natural resources in the parks • Intended to be a bibliography, not necessarily a catalog • Currently has about 300,000 records

3. Natural Resource Challenge Inventory Criteria • Must produce “core” or baseline information Initial bulk load of records January 2001 • Specified protocols and QA standards Protocols and standards have evolved • Data must be compatible and allow for synthesis and analysis at broader levels Master web-based database; now on second version of user interface

4. What is cited in NatureBib? • Journal articles and published reports • Conference papers and proceedings • Theses, books and book chapters • Maps • Unpublished reports (grey literature) • Correspondence (letters and memos) • Videotapes • Collections (rocks, photographs, files) • Datasets

5. The things that make NatureBib uniquecan also create QA/QC challenges • Gathers information under a park code • Journal articles and conference papers as well as books and reports • Includes grey literature • Record creation allowed with minimal metadata • Holdings not required

6. Data Collection • Everything in file cabinets, closets and offices • Holdings of a resource library in a park • Search results from a commercial online database or regional library catalog

7. Is this draft report still in the 2nd drawer? • Draft report on the status of the Little Kern golden trout. • WR-SEKI / Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Resource Management Office, Wildlife Biologist's Office, walk in closet, gray file cabinet on the left, 2nd drawer, in a folder labeled "N1621 - Golden Trout Cooperative Plans 1970-1974"

8. Variety is the spice (or headache) • 1900. Author unknown. Black-and-white photos extra prints (collection). Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ajo, AZ. • Aardahl, J. B. 1985. Memorandum to File 6610. Deer habitat survey and water development recommendations for the Saline Range, Inyo Mountains, CA. • Author unknown. n.d. Geology, mammals, skulls (specimens).

9. Would this information help parks manage natural resources? • Andrews, R. W. and H. A. Kirwin. 1955. This was seafaring : a sea chest of salty memories. Bonanza Books, New York. • Author unknown. 1985. AV production and the parks: A handbook for park personnel. Harpers Ferry Center. • Western Wisconsin Utilities. 1985. Transmission Planning Study Technical Information Document. Western Wisconsin Utilities, St. Paul, MN.

10. Data Entry • ProCite (commercial software tool for publishing and managing bibliographies) • NatureBib desktop application (MS Access) - Backend files uploaded to master Oracle database • Online (direct data entry)

11. Quality Assurance • Process oriented • Data QA done at the park or network level • Variety of training and experience in data entry • Guidance from the national office

12. Quality Control • Product oriented • QC efforts vary • Objectivity, utility, and integrity of records will need to be examined at both the national and park level before wider dissemination of the records.

13. Objectivity: Substance • Accurate? A survey of the aunt fauna Hymenoptera: Formicidae. • Complete? Beaumont, G. n.d. Glacier. Journal title unknown. • Usable? 1982. Author unknown. Animals trespass. (200 slides) • Reliable? Rock, J. 1980. Beverages: Canned Beer and Soda Notes.

14. Utility • Find materials that meet a certain criteria • Identify an item • Select the record that meets the need • Obtain access to the item

15. Subject access Interim bison management operating procedures : decision notice • Subject heading: American bison – control – environmental aspects – Yellowstone National Park • Keywords: animal studies, bison (Bison bison), brucellosis, mammals, management • NatureBib uses keywords and park codes (YELL)

16. Integrity and Security • Is the metadata sensitive? • Is the information in the notes or abstract sensitive? • Who owns the record for editing?

17. NatureBib for NPS users • NatureBib now requires a username and password • Roles of reader or editor • Active Directory authentication is planned • DO #11B does not apply to NPS distribution

18. QC Tools

19. Certification for public release • What information does the public want? • Do we have a mission to inform the public? • What role should the parks and networks play? • What role should the national office play? • What resources are available? • Cost/benefit analysis?

20. Issues • How does a record meet user needs? • Are some records a priority? • Which fields of the record should be included? • What constitutes a good enough record? • What can be made public and who decides? • What might the QA/QC process look like?

21. Workbench concept • NatureBib will probably have a reincarnation as the Literature Service (part of the IRMA SOA project) • Workbench concepts being developed for the Species Service could also be used for NatureBib • Would allow for a series of checks leading to certification for ‘public’ or ‘NPS only’ release

22. A work area to sort our stuff and the tools to fix it

23. What could the workbench provide? • Lifecycle status • Comments on individual records • ‘Work-in-progress’ option • Display of duplicates for merging • Batch updates or edits • Sliding quality/utility scale

24. Filters All NatureBib records Sensitive records Incomplete records Non-bibliographic information Grey literature Scientific information about the natural resources in the parks

25. Big picture tasks ahead • Determine future scope and mission • Define role in providing NPS information • Research how we can better serve user needs • Agree on minimum standards • Plan for a process with both centralized and decentralized roles and responsibilities

26. National office Suggest standards Suggest record types and fields to be released Provide tools Set priorities Monitor results Park or network Confirm metadata details Confirm holdings locations Upload documents Assign record sensitivity Certify records for public release Centralized versus Decentralized QC

27. Author unknown. 1880’s. Sewer Basins, Moon Island Boston Sewerage. Two photographs Abstract: View of basins and processing plant depicts six male visitors daintily holding their noses. Massachusetts Metropolitan Area Planning Council. 1973. Boston Harbor Islands Comprehensive Plan: Moon Island support documentation. Notes: Loose-leaf stapled document; includes site maps and table of recreation benefit data. This document provides support information regarding the history, natural resources, recreation and management alternatives for Moon Island as part of the Boston Harbor Islands Comprehensive Plan NatureBib: a unique collection