Data carpentry in the Caltech libraries

Abstract

Software Carpentry is a non-profit volunteer organization that was established in 1998 to teach science researchers basic, essential computing skills using a compressed, hands-on workshop approach, and focusing on open-source platforms wherever possible. Usually lasting 2 or 3 days, Software Carpentry workshops focus on teaching the basics of the unix command line, programming (using R or Python), database operation (using SQLite) and version control (using Git or Mercurial). The movement has expanded to include Data Carpentry lessons and workshops focused on cleaning and analyzing research data (including using OpenRefine), Library Carpentry workshops targeted at programming tools librarians could use in their work, and brand-new Author Carpentry lessons targeted at tools that support modern writing and publishing, such at managing bibliog. data using BibTeX and other open-source solns., managing scholarly identification using ORCiD, and other topics. Three Caltech Librarians have completed the Instructor Training to become certified Instructors, and to date we have held two Carpentry workshops for the Caltech community. Discussion will include the philosophy behind the Carpentry instruction approach and a debrief of the workshops held, its relevance to chem. researchers and information professionals, and why this style of instruction has found a home at the Caltech Library.

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