CRANtastic!

Did you know that the cranberry, ubiquitous during this time of year given its association with traditional Thanksgiving holiday feasting, is Wisconsin’s leading fruit crop?!
(See the NASS, USDA Cranberry production reports and the annual Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Bulletin for data tables).

Consult Steenbock’s research guide to the American Cranberry to explore more about cranberry cultivation, marketing, and use (including links to growers and online recipe sites).  Steenbock Library maintains this guide as a partner in AgNIC, a portal to agricultural news, events, libraries and research centers.

Should you wish to savor this fruit in your fall harvest menu, we also invite you to browse a selection of titles from our collection with Pinterest guide, "CRANtastic".

Manage Your Research Data, Workshop

Are you frustrated by the challenge of organizing your research data?  Do you need to submit a data management plan as part of your grant application?  If you can say yes to either query, then save the date for a free, drop-in workshop at Steenbock Library devoted to examining some practical solutions that you can implement immediately.  

What:  Manage Your Research Data

When:  Thursday, October 25 (4:00 PM)
Where:  Steenbock Library, Room 105 (first floor instruction lab)

All workshops are free and generally include hands-on time to explore resources.  No reservations are necessary in order to attend. Questions encouraged.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin, Status 2012

The 2012 Status Report for Wisconsin’s organic producers states that "Wisconsin boasts the second largest number of organic farms in the U.S., ranks first among the states for the number of organic dairy and beef farms, and is third in the nation for organic vegetable farms."

Given these auspicious figures, do consult the report for a full accounting of this sector, its challenges and future.  The report has been prepared by staff and associates with the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems(CIAS) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection(DATCP).

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2012 Status Report (PDF)
Authors: Erin Silva, Laura Paine, Matt Barnidge, Cris Carusi and Ruth McNair

Data Management, What is Your Plan?!

Do you need to describe your data-management plan in your NSF grant application? Are you frustrated by losing your research data to disk failure, laptop theft, or record-keeping issues? Would you appreciate an unbiased review of your lab's data-management practices?

If so, then Research Data Services is available to help.

Research Data Services is a team of librarians, IT professionals, and research-support staff who help researchers with answering data-management questions. For instance, the team can help with addressing the following concerns:

• Data-management plans for the NSF and other funding agencies

• Best practices in digital-data preservation and data sharing

• Process and workflow evaluation and assessment

• Connections with helpful experts and other campus resources

Learn more about data management and arrange for individual consultations by visiting the Research Data Services Website.

Mindset List (Class of 2015)

Welcome to college, Class of 2015!

Beloit College has released its annual Mindset list. While it is important to note that this list does not wholly account for knowledge and experience, it does serve to capture a state of affairs--be it from popular culture, technology or political situation--within the lifespan of the traditional, incoming college student.

It certainly lends itself well to discussion and to reflection upon where we've been and where we may be heading.

Noteworthy on this year’s list is a statement in its introduction to what has become ubiquitous--that being that this is the "first generation to grow up taking the word "online" for granted and for whom crossing the digital divide has redefined research, original sources and access to information, changing the central experiences and methods in their lives."

At the libraries, of course, we, your campus librarians, are not strangers to how online resources have transformed how we find and manage information. Should you need assistance in finding and using these resources, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to supply that assistance.

Get Help, Data Plans for NSF Proposals

Due to requirements announced in January, applicants submitting grant proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF) must provide a two-page data management plan detailing the data collected in a project and how it will be managed, preserved, and shared.

If you need help determining: 1) what to include in your data management plan, 2) which data standards and formats are appropriate for your area, and/or 3) methods for documenting and sharing your data, Research Data Services can help. This cross-campus team of data and information specialists offers free consultations on writing data plans, improving your data management practices, and sharing your data.

Those facing NSF deadlines this summer may want to take advantage of these services right away. To get help, visit the Research Data Services site or email its team of campus staff (digitalcuration@lists.wisc.edu).

Print the flyer (PDF).

With thanks to the Research Data Services team for the content of this blog post.

Celebrating Forests for People

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests. This effort is intended to raise awareness and to recognize and celebrate people’s efforts to conserve and sustainably manage all types of forests.

Visit the site to read the UN Resolution and to access information regarding news and events. Additionally, consult the FAO Forestry site for links to data, maps and discussion regarding global forestry issues.

For your research needs and local library support, visit the campus libraries’ Research Guide to Forestry.

Data Curation, What is Your Plan?!

Do you need to describe your data-management plan in your NSF grant application? Are you frustrated by losing your research data to disk failure, laptop theft, or record-keeping issues? Would you appreciate an unbiased review of your lab's data-management practices?

If so, then Research Data Services is available to help.

Research Data Services is a team of librarians, IT professionals, and research-support staff who help researchers with answering data-management questions. For instance, the team can help with addressing the following concerns:

• Data-management plans for the NSF and other funding agencies
• Best practices in digital-data preservation and data sharing
• Process and workflow evaluation and assessment
• Connections with helpful experts and other campus resources

Learn more about data management and arrange for individual consultations by visiting the Research Data Services Website.

Research Data Services is a pilot collaboration between UW-Madison Libraries, DoIT, the CIO office, the Graduate School, and the School of Library and Information Studies to assist researchers with data curation needs. Digital data curation has been identified as a campus IT strategic initiative.

With thanks to Dorothea Salo, Research Services Librarian, for this blog post.

Christmas Bird Count

Beginning December 14 and running through January 5, bird enthusiasts will take to the fields and woodlands to record their sightings of particular bird species--a brilliant example of citizen science in action where engaged volunteers partner with researchers to document particular phenomena.

If you are interested in getting involved with this year’s count, see the Audubon Society’s information for participants.

For more information about bird species, do consult the online edition of Birds of North America. This comprehensive reference tool details the life histories of more than 716 North American species. The online edition, a product of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Ornithologist’s Union supplies descriptive text, image collections, audio and video to reveal aspects of behavior and habitat. For locating additional library resources devoted to ornithology, see the Ornithology Research Guide.

Should you wish to document your bird sightings year-round, consider registering with the eBird community--a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society to record bird abundance and distribution.

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin, Status Report

The outlook for Wisconsin’s organic producers is positive despite the current recession. The state is also second only to California in the total number of organic farm operations in the United States--with 1443 certified and uncertified farms, according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture. These farms account for some $80.6 million in farm-gate sales.

For a full accounting of this diverse sector, its challenges and future, consult the 2009 status report prepared by staff and associates with the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2009 Status Report
Authors: Kelliann Blazek, Erin Silva, Laura Paine and Thomas Atwell

Resources on Haiti

In response to the disastrous earthquake in Haiti, Chancellor Martin encourages the UW-Madison community to support relief efforts.

Many resources are available online, and from campus libraries, to help you to learn more about Haiti and current relief efforts. Speak with campus librarians for assistance locating additional resources (articles, books, web sites).

Charitable giving (agencies, organizations):
American Red Cross
Doctors without Borders/Medecins sans Frontieres
Engineers without Borders
Partners in Health
Unicef…, among others.
(In order to evaluate a charitable organization, visit the Charity Navigator site).

News:
CNN Haiti Earthquake
Democracy Now! (headline news and recent shows)
New York Times, Haiti
Relief Web, Haiti

Country Information, Maps:
CountryWatch (Select country, Haiti)
Haiti, CIA World Factbook
Haiti, World Health Organization
Haiti Earthquake, Map, USGS

Health & Disaster Response:
Haiti Earthquake, Disaster Information Management Research Center, NLM, NIH

Books/Documents (campus collections):
Run a MadCat, Words Anywhere search, to flexibly retrieve records to books, documents and audiovisual items from campus collections or browse this index of subject-headings. Click on a heading of interest to pull records to those collection items.

• Haiti: Past and Present Research Guide, UW-Madison Libraries (includes listing of film series event)
  

Blog post inspiration credit to UMass-Amherst librarian, Isabel E. who has generated a “Disaster in Haiti" Research Guide for her campus.

Cranberry Consciousness

The cranberry, a fruit native to North America and ubiquitous during this time of year given its association with traditional Thanksgiving holiday feasting, is Wisconsin’s leading fruit crop.

Today, growers in 18-19 Wisconsin counties can account for nearly 60% of the nation’s cranberry harvest.

Visit the following links to learn more about cranberry production, its contribution to the state’s economy and its versatility as a food product (recipes!).

Library Resources:

• Cranberry Research Guide (Agnic, Steenbock Library)

Cookery:

There are several cookbooks available from the Steenbock collection to feature cranberries. Run a MadCat, “Words Anywhere” search to view those titles.

Agricultural Statistics:

• 2008 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics (see page 45)

• Cranberry Forecast (for 2009), NASS USDA

• Facts for Features (Thanksgiving), US Census Bureau
  

Wisconsin Cranberry Industry:

• Wisconsin’s Cranberry Harvest, 2009 brochure

• Wisconsin Cranberry Crop Management Library (UW Horticulture)

• Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association

• Cranberry Discovery Center
  

United States Cranberry Industry:

• Cranberry Institute

• Cranberry Marketing Committee

Ranking America

How does the United States compare to other nations in such areas as arts funding, life expectancy, math scores, or refugee populations? How about cheese production or civil liberties? The data may surprise you!

If you are curious, visit the Ranking America blog site, created by Mark Rice, Professor of American Studies with St. John Fisher College, to tap into the data. The data posted to the site are drawn from a variety of collecting agencies worldwide including the FAO, the World Health Organization, the World Resources Institute, and the British Geological Survey, among many others.

UNdata

The United Nations Statistics Division offers UNdata, a one-stop access portal to the many UN data products. The page includes links to databases and data sets in such categories as agriculture, population, industry, energy, trade, tourism, and more.

The databases are accessible by browsing, by keyword searching from a simple search page, or by selecting an advanced search from the “More” link in which limits by world region, statistical product and year can be applied. The “More” link also leads the user to the United Nation’s “Country Profiles.”

The UNdata site also supplies links to news regarding its reports and products as well as to country-specific data providers/services (as selected from the right column).

Country Profiles

Do you need to retrieve data about a selected country? If so, campus libraries supply access to a variety of databases and free Web resources. A selection of resources can be accessed using the E-Resource Gateway (Area/International Studies category).

Consider the following:

CountryWatch

Country Reviews supply historical, political, economic, investment, social, and environmental overview of each country. CountryWatch Data allows you to display, cross-tabulate and download numeric data about the countries. Country Wire provides access to articles from international news services. CountryWatch Maps supply physical/political maps in a variety of sizes and formats.

Country Profiles, FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

Information retrieval tool groups the organization's vast archive of information on its global activities in agriculture and development into a single area and organizes it by country.

Global Road Warrior (business-travel oriented)

Site supplies demographic and socio-cultural information about countries—with much of its content of interest to business travelers.

World Factbook, CIA

Site contains overviews of each country, including data on geography, people, government, economy, membership in international organizations, communications, and transnational issues. Maps and flags may be viewed in various formats.

Back to School Stats

Did you know that the projected number of students enrolled in the nation’s colleges and universities this fall is some 18.4 million students?!

The US Census Bureau Newsroom, “Facts for Features” page supplies collections of statistics from the Bureau's demographic and economic subject areas that serve to commemorate particular holidays and events. Each stat and statement is accompanied by a link to the data source.

Check out the stats on “Back to School”

The Mindset List

Beloit College has released its annual Mindset list. While it is important to note that this list does not wholly account for knowledge and experience, it does serve to capture a state of affairs—be it popular culture, technology or political situation—within the lifespan of the traditional, incoming college student.

It certainly lends itself well to discussion and reflection upon where we’ve been and where we may be heading (and, sigh, just how long some of our experience has been).

Is there anyone else out there with tartan flares and a Bay City Rollers LP?

Energy Stats (consumption, production, projections)

The Energy Information Administration, created in 1977 as a statistical agency of the US Department of Energy, has released three reports of interest.

Annual Energy Review, 2007
Report includes data on total energy production, consumption, and trade; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy, international energy, and financial and environmental indicators.

Annual Energy Outlook, 2008
Report presents projections and analysis of US energy supply, demand and prices through 2030.

International Energy Outlook Highlights, 2008
Report presents the EIA’s assessment of the outlook for international energy markets through 2030.

Of related interest, do consult the EIA’s Country Energy Profiles.

Journals Ranked by Impact (Energy & Fuels)

The Sci-Bytes column from ScienceWatch has recently supplied a table comparing the citation impact of journals in the subject category of energy and fuels during three time periods. Data for the 2007 impact factor has been drawn from the current edition of Journal Citation Reports.

According to Journal Citation Reports, "the journal impact factor is the average number of times articles from the journal published in the past two years have been cited in the JCR year."

Journal Citation Reports can be accessed from the campus libraries' E-Resource Gateway.

Dairy Month

June has long been designated Dairy Month. In order to savor the bounty from dairy producers, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board has posted a calendar of events at its site, statistics, and a request form for its free Traveler’s Guide, Cheese Map!

If you are interested, though, in history and status of the dairy industry, there are a variety of resources available, including the following listed below, that supply more comprehensive treatment.

The Centennial issue of Journal of Dairy Science (April 2006) features a selection of the “Major Advances in Dairy Science in the Last Twenty-Five Years”

(Full-text to this volume can be accessed by running a journal title search using the Find It form).

The Rise of Dairy Farming, Turning Points in Wisconsin History, Wisconsin Historical Society

Rethinking Dairyland (leaflets and discussion papers), Agricultural & Applied Economics

Status of Wisconsin Agriculture (annual outlook reports), Agricultural & Applied Economics

Understanding Dairy Markets (data and news), Dairy Marketing and Risk Management