Discovery, Access, and Delivery of Data for IPY: Community Workshop and Seminar; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, N.Y., USA, 16-17 November 2006; Data systems must serve user needs. This is easier said than done, especially when trying to design a system that will provide discovery and access to a broad array of disparate data for users with differing expertise. The International Polar Year (IPY) provides a particular challenge with its emphasis on interdisciplinary research in the physical, life, and social sciences. Typically, systems designers try to enumerate the various requirements of the system and build the system to meet those requirements. The challenge is ensuring that the requirements accurately reflect evolving user needs and adequately address how a user will use the system to solve problems. A more user-driven and iterative approach is necessary.