Findings: Data Organization

• Most common organizing mechanism – directory structure, spreadsheets, and word processing software

• Databases (with or without metadata) are uncommon. Viewed as time/labor-intensive, unnecessary drain on research time.

• Portals built by tech specialists within a field are well utilized.

• Storage space is adequate for now. Over half the people contacted were in the process of upgrading.

• Most departments did not have strictly enforced limits on email, data storage, and personal storage

• Though much on their servers is "garbage," memory is thrown at the problem; little support in most departments for data management

• "Not a solved problem." While actual memory might be cheap, tape, labor, and other equipment to ensure that data are maintained is NOT.