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Advancing the Research Mission

  • Role of Libraries in Data Curation

Role of Libraries in Data Curation

OCLC Research Library Partnership

Academic libraries should be prepared to respond to the need for dataset management, both supporting researchers' data needs during the course of the research and providing ongoing preservation of and access to datasets. This activity will investigate topics related to data curation and libraries.

Other efforts related to helping libraries with data curation include cost studies of sustainable digital curation. Partner working groups are exploring campus-wide policy and selection issues.

Background

Data curation has repeatedly come up as an area where OCLC Research Library Partners would like to work collaboratively on a path forward.

Impact

Libraries would like to provide distinctive services in their support of their institutions' research missions. While data needs for some of the big sciences are met outside the library, there are other fields in which data curation is badly needed. This project will help to establish meaningful ways in which libraries can help to manage research datasets.

Details

The Research Information Interest Group listserv (link http://www.oclc.org/research/partnership/lists.html) provides a discussion forum for identifying areas of need.  Subgroups then take on a topic and develop something of use to the community.  Currently we have two active subgroups:

Encouraging a campus-wide data management policy

This group is identifying topics for libraries to raise to other stakeholders on campus (IT, Office of Research, Academic departments) about the advantages of a campus-wide policy. The group consists of:

  • Dan Tsang, chair — University of California, Irvine
  • Allan Bell — University of British Columbia
  • Anna Clements — University of St. Andrews
  • Joy Davidson — DCC, University of Glasgow
  • Mike Furlough — Pennsylvania State University
  • Chuck Humphrey — University of Alberta
  • Amy Nurnberger — Columbia University
  • Claire Stewart — Northwestern University
  • Beth Warner — Ohio State University
  • Perry Willett — California Digital Library

Selection of datasets for preservation and access

This group is exploring issues related to deciding which datasets merit long term curation, how to handle deposit agreements (use restrictions, duration, service levels), and what to do when a dataset is decommissioned. The group consists of:

  • Ann Lally, chair — University of Washington
  • Brian Clifford — University of Leeds
  • Joy Davidson — DCC, University of Glasgow
  • Chuck Humphrey — University of Alberta
  • Harrison W. Inefuku — Iowa State University
  • Rachael Kotarski — British Library
  • Ron Nakao — Stanford University
  • Barbara Rockenbach — Columbia University
  • Sally Rumsey — University of Oxford
  • Anna Shadbolt — University of Melbourne

Outputs

Related Work

Most recent updates: Page content: 2011-11-17

Lead

Ricky Erway

Team Members

Ixchel Faniel

Brian Lavoie

Jennifer Schaffner

This activity is a part of the Advancing the Research Mission theme.

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