Library Carpentry Online
The LIR Group is running a series of the Library Carpentry workshops online starting February 3rd.
Library Carpentry is made by librarians, for librarians to help you:
• automate repetitive, boring, error-prone tasks
• create, maintain and analyse sustainable and reusable data
• work effectively with IT and systems colleagues
• better understand the use of software in research
Starting February 3rd two courses below. Keep an eye on this page and on our twitter feed @lirheanet, for updates.
Schedule
Lesson Outlines
OpenRefine
OpenRefine is a desktop application that you manage through a browser-based interface. It is one of the most powerful tools out there for dealing with messy data, including library data. It is also free to use.
- Importing data into OpenRefine
- Faceting and filtering
- Clustering, Transformations
SQL
An introductory lesson for librarians to relational database management systems using SQLite. At the conclusion of the lesson you will:
- Understand what SQLite does
- Use SQLite to summarise and link data.
Regular Expressions
This workshop introduces attendees to working with data using regular expressions, providing background on the regular expression language and how it can be used to match and extract text and to clean data.
Topics covered:
- Using regular expressions in your work
- Using regular expressions to match and extract strings
- Finding and matching strings with regular expressions
Tidy Data
This workshop is designed for anyone interested in or actively working with library data in spreadsheets.
Topics covered:
- Using spreadsheet programs for data wrangling
- Formatting data tables in spreadsheets
- Formatting problems
- Dates as data
- Basic quality assurance, control, and data manipulation
- Exporting data
- Caveats of popular data and file formats
Git and Github
Git is one of the most widely used version control systems in the world. It is a free, open source tool that can be downloaded to your own machine and used for logging all changes made to a group of designated computer files over time. It is at its most powerful when used to coordinate simultaneous work on a group (repository) of files shared by a distributed group of people.
- Git and GitHub
- Versioning, rollback, branches, merging
- Sharing your work with collaborators across the world
- Making a simple website with GitHub Pages
Python
An introduction to programming in Python for librarians with little or no programming experience. It uses examples that are relevant to a wide range of library use cases.
Topics covered:
- Variables and Assignment
- Data Types and Type Conversion
- Built-in functions Libraries
- Lists and Loops
- Conditionals
Software You Will Need
To attend a lesson, you will need to install Zoom. This is easy and should be done when you accept the Zoom invitation that will be sent to you before the lesson. Zoom is a videoconferencing and chat application which allows; screen sharing, breakout rooms, whiteboard, chat, and video. The layout will be easy enough for you to use, as it is similar to applications that you may have already used like Skype, Teams, or Vscene. You will need a device with built in camera and microphone such as a PC,laptop, or even a tablet. After registering for a lesson, you will get an invitation email that will contain a link. Follow this link to download and install Zoom. Many of you will be working for institutions that use Zoom already. However, we have chosen Zoom because we think it will work for everybody else as well.
Instructors
Assumpta Byrne
Systems Librarian, Technological University of the Shannon, Midlands
I am responsible for all library systems and provide support for the Faculty of Engineering. I also serve on the Academic and Special Libraries committee.
I will be teaching SQL
Ken Lacey
Digital Developer, Central Services Unit, TUDublin Library
I developed an interest in computing early in my career as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, writing software that cut down the work required to produce and record aircraft maintenance records. I formalised this interest by achieving an Honours Degree in Computer Applications from DCU in 2002. I then moved DIT, joining the Computer Services team, and later the Learning Teaching and Technology team as a system administrator. I am currently the TU Dublin City Centre Library Digital Developer.
I will be teaching “Tidy Data for Librarians”
Sinead Keogh
Digital Services Librarian, University of Limerick
I am the Digital Services Librarian at the Glucksman Library, University of Limerick, where I manage the Institutional Repository, the digitisation unit and the Digital Library.
I will be teaching Open Refine
David Kane
Systems Librarian, WIT
I am systems librarian at Waterford Institute of Technology. I have a background in I.T. and had worked as a systems administrator and a web developer before joining the library. One of my roles in the library is research support, and I am an advocate of open source and open access. I set up one of earliest open access repositories in 2007, and am a representative on the National Open Access Steering Committee.
I will be teaching Python and Regular Expressions
Liam O'Dwyer
Digital Humanities Librarian, DCU Library
I work in Special Collections and Archives in DCU where my role has a focus on digital collections and digital humanities. This includes providing support and training in digital research methods and tools. I am also a member of the LIBER Working Group on Digital Humanities and Digital Cultural Heritage
I will be teaching Git
Armin Straube
Research Data Manager, University of Limerick
I am the Research Data Manager at the University of Limerick where I provide training and consultancy regarding all things data.
I will be teaching OpenRefine, Python and Regular Expressions
Library Carpentry is software and data skills training aimed at the needs and requirements of library professionals. Training takes place in face-to-face workshops where one or more of the ‘stable’ lessons are taught. Lessons are also made available online (CC BY, published via GitHub Pages) for self-directed study or for adaptation and reuse by library professionals. The lessons have been developed by the Library Carpentry community and delivered around the world.
Text used here adapted from Library Carpentry CC-BY 4.0 International License
