What is Data Services?

Data Services helps current students, faculty and staff at Memorial University to locate and download statistical data from government and academic repositories.

Aspi Balsara is the data contact at Memorial University (abalsara@mun.ca; 709-864-7425). In his absence, contact Erin Alcock (ekalcock@mun.ca; 709-864-7425) or Alison Farrell (alisonr@mun.ca; 709-864-4908). For spatial/geographical data, contact Dan Duda (dduda@mun.ca; 709-864-3198) or David Mercer (djmercer@mun.ca; 709-864-3226).

What data files are accessible from Memorial University Libraries?

An extensively used resource at Memorial is the collection of raw survey data from Statistics Canada’s Data Liberation Initiative (DLI), comprising socio-economic, health, and demographic information.   

Refer as well to the Research Data section on the Canadian Data page for access to data held by academic, government and research repositories in Canada.

The library also subscribes to a collection of international data files; the International Data page includes a link to the ICPSR collection (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research).

What is the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI)?

The DLI is a partnership between academia, Statistics Canada and other government departments, whereby subscribing academic institutions gain access to a large collection of Statistics Canada’s survey data. Memorial University is among over 80 subscribing members. Check the links on the Canadian Data page for further information about the DLI.

Who can access DLI data files?

Current students, faculty and staff may access data files as per the Statistics Canada Open Licence and may approach the data contacts noted above for assistance with identifying and downloading files.

Users outside Memorial may contact Statistics Canada directly at infostats@statcan.gc.ca. For access to the Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF), reach out to the Canada Post Corporation at data.solutionscentre@canadapost.ca.

Is any assistance available with data analysis and statistical software?

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics operates a Statistics Consulting Centre, directed by Dr. Candemir Cigsar (ccigsar@mun.ca; 709-864-8718). A nominal fee is charged for the service. Please contact Dr. Cigsar for further information about its services and fee structure.

Revised, AB, Nov 27, 2024