Shirron Ballard

About me

Gathers and manipulates data relating to collections inventory and usage, providing ease of access and analysis from various systems and vendor sites for internal and external reporting. A sampling of the work done includes review projects for electronic formats, overlap analysis, weeding reports, providing data for academic program reviews, and helping with VIVA projects.

About Discovery, Access, and Technology Unit

We are responsible for collections, metadata, and technology. Departments include Access and Delivery, Interlibrary Loan and Course Reserves, Metadata Strategies, Collection Administration, Data & Scholarly Communications, and Technology.

DATech’s Mission: To steward the entire lifecycle of collections and academic resources through a commitment to research support, equitable access, sustainability, reliable infrastructure, and care for the many communities we support.

DATech’s Vision: To develop and sustain innovative and integrative services that maximize equitable, enduring access to collections and academic resources while cultivating staff expertise and supporting capacity in a highly collaborative and adaptive unit.

About Data & Scholarly Communications Department

Together with the Digital Assets team, we provide holistic support for scholarly communications across JMU, including the development of inclusive and equitable practices related to publishing model support. We provide expertise in copyright and IP, author rights, data ethics, data services, internal Libraries reporting, open education, open publishing, and open infrastructure initiatives.