Data Quality

The following steps are taken to ensure IESR data quality.

1. Collections must comply with the Collections Policy to be included.
2. Diverse sources of content are aggregated and described in a standardized way to ensure collections are equally discoverable. Collections are described consistently using standard subject terms. Link checking software is used monthly and dead URLs updated where possible.
3. For harvested data the quality is ensured by the metadata mapping between the source and IESR schemas. Mandatory fields ensure a base level of quality. Quality and currency of the data itself is maintained at source. Data is harvested weekly. An overall check of the data quality and the metadata mapping is taken every six months. Issues identified are resolved in house or with the contributor.
4. For manually created data mandatory fields ensure a base level of quality. New contributors are advised on data quality and the first set of data created is subjected to a rigorous quality check. Contributors are advised not to include time-sensitive data. Issues are identified and resolved in house or with the contributor. Contributors are emailed at six or 12 month intervals, as agreed with the contributor, and asked to check existing data quality and currency, and to update data if applicable. Updates requiring action from the IESR team are acted upon within one week. If there is no response from the contributor within two weeks the IESR team proactively checks and updates the data. Contributors are informed of any changes made.