The role of academic libraries in research data service (RDS) provision. Opportunities and challenges
| Published date | 07 August 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-10-2016-0233 |
| Pages | 783-797 |
| Date | 07 August 2017 |
| Author | Holly H. Yu |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
The role of academic libraries
in research data service
(RDS) provision
Opportunities and challenges
Holly H. Yu
California State University, Los Angeles, California, USA
Abstract
Purpose –Propelled by fast-evolving computational technology and cloud-based data storage, the
increasing ease in research data collection is outstripping the capacity in research data service (RDS) in
academic institutions. To illustrate the challenges and opportunities in providing RDS, the author provides a
systematic review of the RDS offered in academic institutions and libraries by combining existing literature
and survey data collected from the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Association of College and
Research Libraries (ACRL). In addition, the RDS websites of 2013 ARL survey-participating institutions are
also examined. The aim of the paper is to provide an environmental scan of the current state of RDS provision
in academic institutions, to add to the body of knowledge of RDS development, and to inform and enable
academic libraries to make strategic RDS plans.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper analyzes the strategies used and levels of RDS provided
by reviewing recent literature, exploiting existing survey data from ARL and ACRL, and examining RDS
websites of the 2013 ARL survey-participating institutions, in areas that reect the life cycle of RDS provision
including research data management planning, metadata consultation and tool provision, data archiving,
institutional repository provision and data sharing and access.
Findings –The overall offerings of the library-led research data services in ARL research-intensive
institutions have shown signs of increasing. Increased engagement and expanded scope and level of services
are two noticeable trends in academic library RDS provision. Academic libraries are taking advantage of open
access repositories by advising researchers to use the available resources alongside their local repositories for
data safe-keeping and sharing. Discussions on RDS policy and infrastructure development are inadequate or
largely non-existent.
Originality/value –Through systematically reviewing current literature, drawing on the results of
available surveys on RDS offerings by academic libraries conducted between 2009 and 2014 and examining
and further reviewing the websites of these 2013 ARL survey-participating institutions, the author presents
the current state of academic library activities in RDS provision, and provides a critical evaluation of the scope
and level of services currently being offered in academic libraries, and the opportunities in RDS development,
to add to the body of knowledge of RDS provision by academic institutions.
Keywords Academic libraries, Data collection, Digital repositories, Data management,
Research data, Data management plan, Research data service
Paper type General review
Introduction
Fast-evolving computational technology coupled with cloud-based data storage has
intensied the development and use of research data in academic institutions. The ease with
which researchers collect large and complex data sets is outpacing their knowledge and skill
to properly manage them (Whitmire et al., 2015). Open access repositories have signicantly
altered the landscape of data archiving, storage and curation. Since 2011, mandates for data
management plans and data dissemination from funding agencies and the government have
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
Academic
libraries in
research data
service
783
Received 30 October 2016
Revised 20 April 2017
Accepted 20 April 2017
TheElectronic Library
Vol.35 No. 4, 2017
pp.783-797
©Emerald Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-10-2016-0233
To continue reading
Request your trial