How to use the Datalib Collection

Datalib is the common name for the large collection of datasets stored on the SSCC by the Social Science Data Services department of the University Library.

On every SSCC node, both interactive and batch, the Datalib collection may be found in the directory /datalib. The datasets are organized by study number, with a numbered directory for each study. The studies are grouped into the directories 1000s, 2000s, 3000s, 4000s, 5000s, 6000s, 7000s, 8000s, and 9000s. So, for example, Study 5205 would be found in the directory /datalib/5000s/5205.

To locate datasets on Datalib, you can use a web-based search tool to find the study title, author and the study number, which is the key to access the directory and files on SSCC.

Detailed guides and technical notes regarding accessing and/or extracting datasets with STATA, SAS and SPSS on the SSCC and beyond, may be found in Guides and Tutorials.

If you have special needs or requests, be sure to contact the Data Services staff at the Library.

There are many ICPSR studies in /datalib, but they may be out of date. You should reference the Inter-University Consortium For Political and Social Research (ICPSR) for the latest codebook or data files updates.. However, for some studies involving intensive downloading and computing, including the General Social Survey and World Value Survey, the latest systems files are stored in /datalib for rapid access.