Research Data Management

In late 2018, the OCLC Research Library Partnership (RLP) engaged a group of member libraries in discussion about the Realities of Research Data Management report series, published in 2017-2018 by OCLC Research.Through the course of this effort, OCLC Research has developed a three-part set of resources to support planning and decision making at institutions considering and developing research data management (RDM) services.

We encourage anyone with responsibilities or interest in RDM to use this curriculum to structure RDM service planning at their institutions, following the format below:  

• Part 1: Understanding RDM needs and requirements at local institutions, and identifying your current offerings
• Part 2: Exploring the factors influencing the development of RDM services, including the examination of local and external incentives
• Part 3: Sourcing RDM services: do you build or buy?  

The resources for each section include a 60-minute webinar recording and slides, a learning guide to support your exploration and help frame discussions with colleagues, recommended readings, and a summary of the group’s discussions. 

The webinar series and interest group discussions were facilitated by Senior Program Officer Rebecca Bryant and Senior Research Scientist Brian Lavoie, co-authors of The Realities of Research Data Management report series, along with OCLC Senior Research Scientist Ixchel Faniel.

Part 1: Understanding RDM needs and requirements at local institutions, and identifying your current offerings

Webinar presentation and slides

Supporting learning guide

Summary of group discussions

Recommended readings:

Bryant, Rebecca, Brian Lavoie and Constance Malpas. 2017. A Tour of the Research Data Management (RDM) Service Space. The Realities of Research Data Management, Part 1. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research.  https://doi.org/10.25333/C3PG8J.  

Bryant, Rebecca, Brian Lavoie and Constance Malpas. 2017.  Scoping the University RDM Service Bundle. The Realities of Research Data Management, Part 2. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research.  https://doi.org/10.25333/C3Z039  

Part 2: Works in Progress Webinar: Identifying and Acting on Incentives when Planning RDM Services

Part 3: Sourcing RDM services: do you build or buy? We will also talk about strategies for developing a local RDM solution that fits local needs. 

Webinar presentation and slides

Supporting learning guide

Summary of group discussions

Recommended readings:

Bryant, Rebecca, Brian Lavoie, and Constance Malpas. 2018. Sourcing and Scaling University RDM Services. The Realities of Research Data Management, Part 4. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research. https://doi.org/10.25333/C3QW7M.  

Erway, Ricky, Laurence Horton, Amy Nurnberger, Reid Otsuji, and Amy Rushing. 2016. Building Blocks: Laying the Foundation for a Research Data Management Program. Dublin, OH: OCLC Research.  https://www.oclc.org/research/publications/2016/oclcresearch-data-management-building-blocks-2016.html.