95 - Fostering Equity in Data Access: Lessons from a Needs Assessment for the All of Us Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program

Abstract Information: In this presentation, the audience will hear about conducting a needs assessment to guide strategic decisions in the development of the All of Us Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program (ALP). Data-driven research continues to be a priority for academic institutions. However, many minority-serving institutions (MSIs) do not have access to robust biomedical and public health datasets. The ALP was created to bring the All of Us Researcher Workbench, a cloud-based platform used to access and analyze data on a variety of health conditions, to health sciences and MSI libraries. The purpose of the needs assessment was to identify MSIs’ biomedical and public health data needs; describe MSI academic libraries’ support of data science needs on their campus; and identify MSI academic libraries’ data training and engagement needs. A mixed-methods approach was used to identify needs; analyze the links between the needs and the information required to make decisions; and make recommendations that guide decision-making. Information was collected from major data streams: (1) literature review; (2) key informant interviews with library staff from MSIs and other subject matter experts; (3) a media insights report; and (4) an environmental scan. The presenters will describe the needs assessment process, lessons learned, and the importance of including diverse data streams, including the voice of academic librarians from MSIs who have a unique perspective on the needs of data-driven research for academic institutions, in the evaluation. The presentation will also provide an overview of how the recommendations from the needs assessment informed the first two years of the ALP.