Data are basic facts and captured observations: numbers, words, images, sounds, sensor readings, and more. Alone, they are raw and unprocessed–think of a single temperature reading or an individual photograph.

Organizing data turns raw facts into meaning. Once data are structured, they can be searched, compared and visualized, converting what would be “noise” into helpful information. This supports decision-making, drives research and innovation and improves discoverability.

UC San Diego Library finds, collects and licenses a wide range of data types that support teaching, research and learning across campus. We also transform data into digital formats that can be easily searched and accessed anytime, anywhere.

Many of the items featured in the exhibition were discovered tucked away in the stacks, behind rarely‑used shelves, or in staff workspaces. Their unexpected locations remind us that valuable data often lives in hidden corners, waiting to be uncovered, re‑contextualized and shared. As technology has advanced, the ways we capture, store, and share information have continually evolved, and each new format reflects the tools and needs of its era.

What Does Your Data Look Like? is on view in the Sally T. WongAvery Library breezeway from Friday, December 19, 2025, through Sunday, March 15, 2026, during the building's open hours.