StreamNet LibraryProject Overview for

Data Management Categorical Review

Lenora Oftedahl, Phil Roger, David Liberty & Gabe Sheoships

Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish CommissionPresented to:

NPCC Independent Scientific Review PanelJanuary 17, 2012

StreamNet Library Mission:

The StreamNet Library serves the Pacific Northwest, especially those involved in the region’s fish & wildlife management efforts, by providing access to information about the history, assessments and management programs about the Columbia Basin’s natural resources. 

“Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for

decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit.” -- William Pollard, Clergyman, 1828-1893

StreamNet Library Mission (cont.):

Provide access to the reference documents for StreamNet data (http://www.streamnet.org)

Locate, obtain, & digitize grey literature, technical reports & other documents relevant to fish & wildlife management and restoration.

Provide complete library services to scientists, stakeholders and resource managers in the Columbia Basin.

Collection Development

Reference documents for StreamNet data provided by agencies

Absorbing collections from libraries closing in the region & from retiring professionals

Local NGO’s sign collection management agreements to house & catalog materials

Duplicate exchange with other libraries

Purchase books & subscriptions

Collections

Northwest Power & Conservation Council (house & manage collection)

Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game, physical documents (absorbed collection)

Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, StreamNet collection (absorbed collection)

Johnson Creek Watershed Council (host catalog)

Marshall Collection, Audubon Society of Portland (house & manage collection)

Project Results – Requests for Information

“With so much information now online, it is exceptionally easy to simply dive in and drown.” -- Alfred Glossbrenner, Web expert

Implications for Fish Management

Retain and make accessible past knowledge and experience – providing the institutional memory for fish and wildlife management

Provide documentation to show context of data in relation to adaptive management goals and objectives

Implications for Fish Management (cont.)

Provide access to related journals, technical reports and other electronic documents

Create a digital archive of historical Columbia Basin documents (pre-1950)

Bottom line: The Library provides access to information interpreting and analyzing the data about natural resources

Conclusions/Lessons Learned

Information (investments) is lost over time without a central organizing structure

We have developed a major fisheries research collection that is not available through other sources

The collection is accessible to users in rural locations who may not have access to other libraries

Easier access and quality services creates demand for more information and better research

New Directions(subject to available resources & personnel)

Provide access to online journals for remote patrons

Develop new service delivery methods as technology develops

Participate in social networks to push relevant information and track trends in research in the basin

Questions?