Contact: Maridith Geuder
A new research resource at Mississippi State offers one-stop access to a variety of electronic data files, primarily in the social sciences and business.
The university's Mitchell Memorial Library recently opened the Statistical Data Center to provide a more efficient method for locating information ranging from census reports to disparate financial data.
"Our goal is to assist researchers, graduate students and others in accessing statistical resources from the Internet and commercial vendors," said Deborah Lee, associate professor and reference services librarian. Related resources also are available on compact disc, she added.
Lee said the virtual collection allows users to reach the data files from either of four designated computers in the library's second-floor reference room or from units outside the library system. Among others, the files include:
--American FactFinder, providing data from the 2000 U.S. Census.
--Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, the world's largest collection of social, political, economic, and behavioral data. (Restricted to MSU users only).
--Thomson Publishing's MicroCase, containing ecological data, national surveys, and congressional files, among others.
--Research Insight/Compustat, for statistical and financial information such as annual reports, stock prices and dividend data.
To assist users, a series of workshops--the first on Friday--are being offered for faculty members and graduate students. All being held in the first-floor ELI classroom, they include ICPSR data files, Sept. 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m.; American FactFinder, Oct. 12, 1:30-2:30 p.m.; and Research Insight/Compustat, Nov. 9, 1:30-3 p.m.
Lee also accepts one-on-one consultations by appointment.
For more information, contact Lee at (662) 325-7682 or dlee@library.msstate.edu.