Open research data in African academic and research libraries: a literature analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 383-399
Author(s):  
Elisha R.T. Chiware
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Open Research ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
Data Infrastructures ◽  
Management Services

PurposeThe paper presents a literature review on research data management services in African academic and research libraries on the backdrop of the advancing open science and open research data infrastructures. It provides areas of focus for library to support open research data.Design/methodology/approachThe literature analysis and future role of African libraries in research data management services were based on three areas as follows:open science, research infrastructures and open data infrastructures. Focussed literature searches were conducted across several electronic databases and discovery platforms, and a qualitative content analysis approach was used to explore the themes based on a coded list.FindingsThe review reports of an environment where open science in Africa is still at developmental stages. Research infrastructures face funding and technical challenges. Data management services are in formative stages with progress reported in a few countries where open science and research data management policies have emerged, cyber and data infrastructures are being developed and limited data librarianship courses are being taught.Originality/valueThe role of the academic and research libraries in Africa remains important in higher education and the national systems of research and innovation. Libraries should continue to align with institutional and national trends in response to the provision of data management services and as partners in the development of research infrastructures.

Data librarianship in South African academic and research libraries: a survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 401-416
Author(s):  
Elisha R.T. Chiware
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Libraries ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Library And Information Studies ◽  
Information Studies ◽  
Management Services

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to establish the current skills base of librarians working in research data management services in academic and research libraries in South Africa. The purpose was also to determine the relevance of courses and programmes that are currently being offered by library and information studies programmes in response to the needs of research data management services and make recommendations on curriculum improvement.Design/methodology/approachAbout 13 institutions which were considered early adopters of research data management services were identified as participants in an online survey. In addition, a review of Web pages of existing library and information studies schools was carried to establish courses that would support research data management services. Data collected through the two approaches were analysed and presented quantitatively and qualitatively.FindingsThe findings reveal an environment in a developmental stage, with limited skilled personnel to run research data management services. The findings also show an absence of specific data librarianship courses within existing library and information studies programmes and a very limited scope for the full range of data management courses within professional development programmes.Originality/valueThe paper provides information on approaches to further develop existing curriculum and contribute to the data management needs and support governments, funders and publishers' requirements for the discoverability and re-use of research data across research domains.

scholarly journals Research Data Management Implementation at Peking University Library: Foster and Promote Open Science and Open Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-204
Author(s):  
Hua Nie ◽  
Pengcheng Luo ◽  
Ping Fu
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Open Data ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
University Library ◽  
Open Research ◽  
Peking University

Research Data Management (RDM) has become increasingly important for more and more academic institutions. Using the Peking University Open Research Data Repository (PKU-ORDR) project as an example, this paper will review a library-based university-wide open research data repository project and related RDM services implementation process including project kickoff, needs assessment, partnerships establishment, software investigation and selection, software customization, as well as data curation services and training. Through the review, some issues revealed during the stages of the implementation process are also discussed and addressed in the paper such as awareness of research data, demands from data providers and users, data policies and requirements from home institution, requirements from funding agencies and publishers, the collaboration between administrative units and libraries, and concerns from data providers and users. The significance of the study is that the paper shows an example of creating an Open Data repository and RDM services for other Chinese academic libraries planning to implement their RDM services for their home institutions. The authors of the paper have also observed since the PKU-ORDR and RDM services implemented in 2015, the Peking University Library (PKUL) has helped numerous researchers to support the entire research life cycle and enhanced Open Science (OS) practices on campus, as well as impacted the national OS movement in China through various national events and activities hosted by the PKUL.

Diffusion and adoption of research data management services

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-133
Author(s):  
Jinfang Niu
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovations ◽  
Communication Channels ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Early Adopters ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Organization Networks ◽  
Management Services

Purpose This paper aims to identify the diffusion patterns, especially the communication channels, in the diffusion and adoption of research data management services (RDMS) among libraries. Design/methodology/approach Literature about the RDMS in individual libraries was gathered and analyzed. Data relevant to the research questions were extracted and analyzed. Findings Early adopters conduct much original research to create RDMS and they often serve as change agents in diffusing their RDMS and related innovations to other libraries. In contrast, late adopters usually learn from early adopters and use their innovations for establishing their own RDMS. Communication channels used in diffusing RDMS deviate slightly from those reported in general diffusion of innovations (DOI) theories. Research limitations/implications Gathered literature provides incomplete and uneven information for RDMS adopters. This makes it difficult to identify adopter categories and test many generalizations in DOI theories. To overcome these limitations, surveys and interviews will be conducted in the future. Originality/value Findings from this project contribute to general DOI theories because RDMS is unique compared with many other innovations. The diffusion of RDMS is a decentralized process that involves a high-degree of reinvention and it involves the generation and diffusion of many relevant innovations. The project also identified scholarly communication and inter-organization networks as new types of communication channels that are not well accounted for in existing DOI theories.

Research Data Management Services in Tertiary Institutions in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
pp. 419-437
Author(s):  
Josiline Phiri Chigwada
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Data Services ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Survey Monkey ◽  
Management Services

The chapter seeks to analyze how librarians in Zimbabwe are responding to increasing librarian roles in the provision of research data services. The study sought to ascertain librarians' awareness and preparedness to offer research data management services at their institutions and determine support required by librarians to effectively deliver research data services. Participants were invited to respond to the survey, and survey monkey was used to administer the online questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using content analysis, and it was thematically presented. Findings revealed that librarians in Zimbabwe are aware of their role in research data management, but the majority are not prepared to offer research data management services due to a lack of the required skills and resources. Challenges that were noted include lack of research data management policy at institutional levels and information technology issues such as obsolescence and security issues.

scholarly journals Building a research data management service for the London school of hygiene & tropical medicine

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 424-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth Knight
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Tropical Medicine ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
London School ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Time Investment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of work performed at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to set-up a Research Data Management Service and tailor it to the needs of health researchers. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the motivations for establishing the RDM Service and outlines the three objectives that were set to improve data management practice within the institution. Each of the objectives are explored in turn, stating how they were addressed. Findings – A university with limited resources can operate a RDM Service that pro-actively supports researchers wishing to manage research data by monitoring evolving support needs, identifying common trends and developing resources that will reduce the time investment needed. The institution-wide survey identified a need for guidance on developing data documentation and archiving research data following project completion. Analysis of ongoing support requests identifies a need for guidance on data management plans and complying with journal sharing requirements. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides a case study of a single institution. The results may not be generally applicable to universities that support other disciplines. Practical implications – The case study may be helpful in helping other universities to establish an RDM Service using limited resources. Originality/value – The paper outlines how the evolving data management needs of public health researchers can be identified and a strategy that can be adopted by an RDM Service to efficiently address these requirements.

Research data management: a conceptual framework

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 226-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimple Patel
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Level ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
Data Life Cycle ◽  
Effective Manner

Purpose Research data management (RDM) is gaining a lot of momentum in the present day and rightly so. Research data are the core of any research study. The findings and conclusions of a study are entirely dependent on the research data. Traditional publishing did not focus on the presentation of data, along with the publications such as research monographs and especially journal articles, probably because of the difficulties involved in managing the research data sets. The current day technology, however, has helped in making this task easier. The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for managing research data at the institutional level. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses the significance and advantages of sharing research data. In the spirit of open access to publications, freeing research data and making it available openly, with minimal restrictions, will help in not only furthering research and development but also avoiding duplication of efforts. The issues and challenges involved in RDM at the institutional level are discussed. Findings A conceptual framework for RDM at the institutional level is presented. A model for a National Repository of Open Research Data (NRORD) is also proposed, and the workflow of the functioning of NRORD is also presented. Originality/value The framework clearly presents the workflow of the data life-cycle in its various phases right from its creation, storage, organization and sharing. It also attempts to address crucial issues in RDM such as data privacy, data security, copyright and licensing. The framework may help the institutions in managing the research data life-cycle in a more efficient and effective manner.

scholarly journals eLabFTW as an Open Science tool to improve the quality and translation of preclinical research

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 292
Author(s):  
Michael Hewera ◽  
Daniel Hänggi ◽  
Björn Gerlach ◽  
Ulf Dietrich Kahlert
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Open Data ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Research Data Management ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Set Up

Reports of non-replicable research demand new methods of research data management. Electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) are suggested as tools to improve the documentation of research data and make them universally accessible. In a self-guided approach, we introduced the open-source ELN eLabFTW into our lab group and, after using it for a while, think it is a useful tool to overcome hurdles in ELN introduction by providing a combination of properties making it suitable for small preclinical labs, like ours. We set up our instance of eLabFTW, without any further programming needed. Our efforts to embrace open data approach by introducing an ELN fits well with other institutional organized ELN initiatives in academic research.

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