Retaining Your Old Data

Kristin Briney, PhDData Services Librarian

lukasbenc, https://www.flickr.com/photos/lukasbenc/3493808772 (CC BY-NC-SA)

justgrimes, https://www.flickr.com/photos/notbrucelee/8016192302 (CC BY-SA)

FUTURE FILE USABILITY

Ian, http://www.flickr.com/photos/ian-s/2152798588/ (CC BY-NC-ND)

Future File Usability

• What?– Can you use your files from 10 years ago?– Data needs to be• Accessible• Interpretable• Readable

Future File Usability

• Why?– You may want to use the data in 5 years– PI sometimes keeps data and notes– Prep for data sharing– Per OMB Circular A-110, must retain data at least

3 years post-project• Better to retain for >5 years

Future File Usability

• When?– (As you work on a project)– When you wrap up a project

Future File Usability

• How?– Back up written notes• People always forget this one• Difficult to interpret data without notes• Options

– Digitally scan (recommended with digital data)– Photocopies

Future File Usability

• How?– Convert file formats• Can you open digital files from 10 years ago?• Use open, non-proprietary formats that are in wide use

– .docx .txt– .xlsx .csv– .jpg .tif

• Save a copy in the old format, just in case• Preserve software if no open file format

Future File Usability

• How?– Move to new media• Hardware dies and becomes obsolete

– Floppy disks!

• Expect average lifetime to be 3-5 years• Keep up with technology

Future File Usability

• How?– Put into a repository– It will preserve data for you– Find a repository in your discipline• databib.org• www.re3data.org• Ask me!

WHAT TO DO FROM HERE

Chris Hoving, https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcrucifer/2433274595 (CC BY-ND)

Data Services

• uwm.edu/libraries/dataservices

• Data Services Librarian– Kristin Briney

Thank You!

• This presentation available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license