Libraries & Citizen Science
Why libraries Should offer citizen science
As information centers and community hubs, libraries have a unique opportunity to facilitate and further citizen science among their patrons. By providing information and materials to accomplish citizen science projects in their communities, libraries connect library users to meaningful participation in scientific data collection, create lifelong learning opportunities, and further the collective knowledge of society. We couldn't imagine a better partnership!
You can learn more about the myriad benefits of citizen science on the Impacts page of this website.
Once you know the basics, use this website to plan your citizen science initiative, find New York-centered projects, browse project ideas and templates, and more!
Photo courtesy of Freepik
Libraries in Your Area with Citizen Science Initiatives
Capital Region
Central NY
Finger Lakes Region
Mid-Hudson Area
Photo by Alex Block on Unsplash
Photo by Anastasiya Badun on Unsplash
Mohawk Valley
New York Metropolitan Area (Including Long Island)
North Country
Launders Science Library (St. Lawrence University Academic Library)
Southern Tier
Western NY
Be sure to also check out the map on SciStarter!
Citizen Science and FAIR Principles: A Guide for Public Libraries
As you embark on organizing your own Citizen Science projects, adopting the FAIR principles is crucial to ensure the transparency, accessibility, and reusability of the data you collect. This is especially important if you want to create your own Citizen Science projects and not just join a project that’s already out there.
Here's a brief overview:
F - Findable: Just as libraries catalog books for easy discovery, FAIR encourages the use of unique identifiers and detailed metadata to make research data easily findable for both humans and machines.
A - Accessible: Similar to how libraries provide access to information, FAIR emphasizes making data easily accessible and understandable for both people and computers.
I - Interoperable: Like the standardized organization of books in a library, FAIR promotes using standard data formats to facilitate seamless data exchange between different software programs.
R - Reusable: As libraries promote the sharing of knowledge, FAIR encourages researchers to use clear licensing terms, ensuring their work can be built upon by others.
By adhering to the FAIR principles in your Citizen Science projects, you will not only contribute to the scientific community but also foster a spirit of collaboration and learning among your patrons. Find support to meet these principles:
GO FAIR Initiative: A global initiative that aims to facilitate the adoption of the FAIR principles. They provide resources, training materials, and support for organizations looking to implement FAIR.
FAIRsFAIR: A project funded by the European Commission that provides support and resources to help organizations implement the FAIR principles.
Research Data Alliance (RDA): A global community-driven organization that promotes data sharing and interoperability. They offer a range of resources and working groups focused on FAIR data practices.
DataCite: A leading global organization that provides services and resources for data citation and identification. They support the implementation of FAIR by enabling the assignment of DOIs to research data.
FAIRsharing: A platform that provides a comprehensive collection of standards, repositories, and data policies to help researchers follow the FAIR principles in their data management practices.
Hansen, Jitka Stilund, ed. (2021). "Section 1: Citizen Science for Library Staff, Researchers, and the Public." In Citizen Science for Research Libraries — A Guide. LIBER Citizen Science Working Group. https://doi.org/10.25815/hf0m-2a57