University Library Guides Help with Research Data Related Questions

Data use and manipulation, storage, and discovery are growing needs for researchers.  A recent government memo (OSTP Public Access “Nelson Memo”) expanded the requirement that researchers “make their publications and their supporting data resulting from federally funded research publicly accessible.” This means that researchers need to save, organize, and store their data as part of the understanding that good research is replicable and transparent.  Meanwhile, students come across more assignments that require the finding, analysis, and presentation of data sets.  

One way the Ohio University Libraries responds to changing needs is by creating online library guides specifically designed for questions we expect to arise; the expansion of library guides about research data exemplifies this effort to proactively support the Ohio University community.

Our series of research data library guides starts with Research Data Literacy 101 in which the definitions and basics of using data are outlined.  The difference between data and statistics is offered here, as well as an overview of “open data”, and lists of library databases that offer statistics or data sets. 

The second library guide is the newest: Research Data Repositories: Finding and Storing Data. This guide covers where a researcher can find and/or deposit data per government standards or publication expectations.  This includes many subject-specific lists of organizations and universities that gather and store data for researchers both to find and to save.  The largest list, the multidisciplinary repositories, covers resources that take in a broad range of topics and types of data. These annotated lists are still growing.  

Research Data Management, the third library guide, covers how to create a Data Management Plan (DMP), funder expectations on DMPs, metadata tips, and other important aspects.  This is a complex process but using the DMPTool gives researchers a template to follow when creating a DMP. The DMPTool guide pages offer help in its use. 
Our deep dive into the data needs of our researchers is just beginning. Librarians are happy to answer questions related to content on these guides.  Look for workshops and campus collaborations geared toward data as demand grows.

For more information, contact Sherri Saines, Hanna Schmillen, or Paul Campbell.