Saving What Counts: Lessons from Data Rescues for Today's Data Librarians

Data Rescue Project Lynda Kellam @lyndamk | @datarescueproject.org Saving What Counts: Lessons from Data Rescues for Today’s Data Librarians Our mission The Data Rescue Project serves as a lifeboat for at-risk US Governmental Datasets. Our dedicated steering committee and community of volunteers work towards the continued and robust accessibility of these at-risk datasets. Data Rescue Project Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org 1000+ rescued datasets 80+ at-risk gov’t offices covered Hundreds of Terabytes of mirrored data 500+ volunteers The DRP at a Glance Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Lessons from Data Rescue Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Lesson 1: We bring the documentation Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Lesson 2: Coordinate AND Duplicate Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Lesson 5: Data rescue is about civic stewardship “Like roads and bridges, the federal statistical system is indispensable but usually overlooked … Groshen compares its current state to ‘crumbling infrastructure’ that is still doing its job but with ‘visible cracks.’” Office of Management and Budget. 2025. Statistical Programs of the United States Government FY 2023. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-c ontent/uploads/2025/01/FY23-Blue-Book-S tatistical-Programs.pdf. Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Lesson 6: We need a rapid response infrastructure for digital objects Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Lesson 7: This is a global concern Data Rescue Project www.datarescueproject.org/ bsky.app/profile/datarescueproject.org Data Rescue Project What have we learned? ●Librarians bring the documentation. ●Coordination and duplication build resilience. ●Transparency builds trust. ●Community sustains the work. ●Civic stewardship gives it meaning. ●Rapid response requires preparation. ●And this is a global concern. Data Rescue Project What can you do? ●Commit! ●Connect! ●Advocate!