Developing a Data Management Guide for Researchers

Researchers are faced with an evolving array of expectations related to how they manage and share data. Academic libraries are well positioned to provide support related to research data management (RDM) owing to their extensive expertise in preserving and curating information1. Unfortunately, researchers and RDM service providers think and talk about data in very different ways and RDM assessment tools are often several steps removed from a researcher’s day-to-day practice.

To address these difficulties, we are developing a customizable set of tools that describe data-related practices using language and terminology familiar to researchers.

This project consists of two related elements, a customizable rubric intended to enable researchers to self-assess their data- related practices and a series of one page guides designed to provide actionable information regarding requirements, standards, and best practices.