Thursday workshop to explain how to use social science database

April 10, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida’s department of political science and George A. Smathers Libraries will host the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday in Library West Room 211.

The consortium was started by the University of Michigan as an archive of social science data. It is available for all members of the consortium to use, including scholars and students, and is available online.

The workshop will be held by Linda Detterman, the consortium’s director of marketing and membership.

The event will help attendees learn how to locate and access data. The goals of the event are to help raise the profile of the consortium and to encourage greater use, said David Schwieder, political science librarian at UF.

Most state universities in Florida are part of the consortium, including Florida State, University of North Florida, Florida Atlantic University and others. UF has been a member for decades, he said, and the ICPSR is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Walk-ins are welcome, but participants can also register by emailing him at dschwieder@uflib.ufl.edu.