On Monday, February 10, 2025, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)-funded Data Quality Literacy project team—Bobray Bordelon (Princeton University), Rashelle Nagar (Stanford University), Jennifer Boettcher (Georgetown University), and Grace Liu (West Chester University)—led a CIS seminar on building awareness and competencies in data quality literacy.
The panel provided valuable insights into maintaining data integrity in research, offering practical strategies for assessing the reliability of various datasets, including federal statistics, administrative records and commercial data. They also introduced essential resources to support researchers in evaluating and improving data quality across multiple domains.
As part of their initiative, the team introduced a new open educational resource (OER) designed to enhance understanding of data quality and equip researchers with tools for assessing and strengthening data reliability. This comprehensive open-access e-book is freely available for all.
Additionally, the team highlighted a series of knowledge briefs available on the Data Quality Literacy website. These concise, informative documents focus on key aspects of data quality, providing practical guidance and insights for researchers, librarians and data professionals.
Bios:
Bobray Bordelon
Bobray Bordelon joined Princeton University Library in 1993 after three years as a Business Librarian at New Mexico State University. His Bachelor of Science in Finance and Master of Library and Information Science are from Louisiana State University and his Master of Business Administration from New Mexico State University. His professional interests involve service to state, national, and international organizations while promoting subject content and knowledge and its access.
Rashelle Nagar
Rashelle is the Business Research & Collections Librarian at the Business Library. She assists faculty, students, and staff at the GSB and Stanford University with their business-related research. Rashelle received a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan School of Information. She was previously the Librarian for Finance, Accounting, and Business Data at Yale University and a Business Librarian at the University of Southern California.
Jennifer C. Boettcher
Jennifer C. Boettcher (bO*cher) is the Business Reference Librarian at Georgetown University and was formerly Business Librarian at Texas A&M University. As an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of America, she teaches business librarianship in the School of Library and Information Science. Her research focuses on government sources. She co-authored a book, with Leonard Gaines, Industry Research Using the Economic Census: How to Find It, How to Use It (Greenwood Press, 2004). Her previous book is Key Business Sources in the U.S. Government (ALA RUSA, 1998). Jennifer Boettcher received her Master’s in Library Science from SUNY-Albany, and her International Executive MBA from Georgetown University.
Grace Liu
Grace Liu is an Associate Professor and Business Librarian at F.H.G. Library. Her scholarly interests focus on information literacy, data quality literacy, and advancing the leadership and impact of academic libraries in higher education. Since joining West Chester University in 2019, Grace has initiated, secured funding for, and directed ten grant projects at the university, state, and national levels. Through these projects, she led teams that engaged over 2,600 WCU students in developing information literacy skills for evaluating online sources and over 1,900 librarians and data professionals in enhancing data quality literacy. The projects also created a comprehensive resource guide for student entrepreneurs and provided insights into the entrepreneurial spirit of WCU students. These initiatives led to the publication of an idea book, which, through a rapid systematic review, identified 120 best practices and strategies across colleges and universities to improve student retention and success and a roadmap for academic libraries to engage campus-wide efforts in closing equity and opportunity gaps and enhance student success for all. Additionally, the teams explored library-supported, student-led peer mentoring and learning community programs for the College of Business and Public Management at WCU. Currently, the project teams are working on developing an internship opportunity map for WCU business students and advancing college students’ career information literacy and career decision-making. Grace Liu served as Member-at-Large on the RUSA BRASS Leadership Council from 2021 to 2024 and is serving as Chair of the AACSB Business Librarian Affinity Group for 2024–2025.