1 cambridge university library supporting research data management: a pragmatic approach catharine...

1Cambridge University Library

Supporting research data management: A pragmatic approach

Catharine Ward, Cambridge University LibraryLibraries@Cambridge conference, Thursday, 6th January, 2011

On behalf of: Lesley Freiman, Cambridge University LibrarySarah Jones, Laura Molloy and Kellie Snow, University of Glasgow

A pilot project for supporting research data management

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Libraries@Cambridge Conference 2011, 6th January 2011

Follow our work! Blog: http//incrementalproject.wordpress.com Twitter: JISCincremental

What is Incremental?

• Collaborative project between Cambridge University Library and HATII, University of Glasgow.

• Aim: To improve research data management within our own institutions by focusing on better advice, training and support – the people aspects.

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Scoping study: method

• Building on Glasgow digital preservation study• Semi-structured interviews• Similar departments to allow comparison

Glasgow (2009):• Archaeology• Chemistry• Engineering• English• Public Health• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Cambridge (2010)• Archaeology• Chemistry• Engineering• English• Public Health• Scott Polar Research Institute

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Scoping study: findings 1. Creating and managing files

File naming and structuring, lack of selection, increasing volumes.

2. Storage and back-upVariety of media, who backs up?

3. Preservation and re-useObsolescence, best formats, available support

4. Data sharing Personal investment, practicalities, obstacles.

5. Existing guidance and trainingWrong time / format, can’t find, hard to use, jargon!, want person to call…

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Language matters• Using the phrase ‘Looking after your data’ rather than

‘preserving your data’

• Suspicious of ‘policies’ which imply a mandate. More receptive to ‘guidance’ or advice’

• Must translate data management from specialist to non specialist

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Four recommendations

http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/

preservation/incremental/

documents/Incremental_Scoping_

Report_170910.pdf

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1. Produce simple guidance on creating, storing and managing data

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2. Offer practical training resources with discipline specific examples‐

‘Curation for researchers’ course- principles of data management- case studies and breakouts to put in context- collaborate with university services to profile support- are producing online materials from this

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Case study of English Language projects

Key considerations

Local support

Digital Curation for Researchers workshop

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Thematic seminars Lunchtime seminars (2hr) in Spring at CRASSH on:

• Ethics/confidential data - 19th January 2011 – Dr Louise Corti (UK Data Archive)

• IPR- 2nd February 2011 – Andrew Charlesworth (JISC/University of Bristol)

• FOI- 16th February 2011 – Mike Baillie (Queens University, Belfast)

• Managing diverse data formats- 2nd March 2011 – Paul Russell (English, Cambridge University), Stephen Gray (JISC/Bristol University), Fannar Haddad

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Online training resources

• Course and workshop outputs e.g. video case studies, audio-synced slides, screencasts

• Modular slides/resources that can be dropped into other courses

• More visual formats e.g. flow diagrams, factsheets

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3. Connect researchers with support stafffor tailored advice and partnering

• Raise awareness of existing support staff and services through data management web pages and training

• Build links with research office to point researchers to relevant support when applying for grants

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4. Work towards a DM infrastructure

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Conclusions• There is a need for support with day to day issues of creating

and managing data.

• Data management is mostly a ‘people’ problem.

• Providing brief and accessible guidance, training and support to researchers will be effective in the long term.

• Data management a collaborative effort: Librarians have key skills in managing, organising and classifying information, which researchers could be drawing on to manage their data more effectively.

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Thanks for listening Email: Catharine Ward - [email protected]

Project website: http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/preservation/incremental/

Cambridge Dataman web pages:http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/dataman/

Project blog:http://incrementalproject.wordpress.com/

Twitter:JISCincremental

1 cambridge university library supporting research data management: a pragmatic approach catharine...

Documents

cambridge conference

jiscincremental slide

data slide

research data management

specialist slide

university of glasgow

jiscincremental scoping

data suspicious of policies