The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has published E-Science and Data Support Services: A Study of ARL Member Institutions, which synthesises data collected in a 2009 survey with subsequent interviews of several responding libraries. Authored by Catherine Soehner, Catherine Steeves, and Jennifer Ward, the study was sponsored by the ARL E-Science Working Group to build an understanding of how libraries can contribute to e-science activities in their institution. Also, it seeks to identify organisations and institutions that have similar interests in e-science to leverage research library interests.
The study draws on data from 57 of 123 ARL member libraries. More than 75 percent of survey respondents reported that their institution either provides infrastructure or support services for e-science or is planning infrastructure for such activities. This finding demonstrates research libraries rapid engagement in e-science in recent years. Both, the survey and the authors interviews, detail how institutions are quickly rising to meet the challenge of managing data and their diverse strategies for doing so in the face of significant challenges regarding infrastructure, funding, and staff resources.
The report presents the findings of the survey of ARL member libraries and also includes six case studies compiled by the authors to elaborate library e-science activities and collaborations. Strategies for resourcing e-science services, staffing patterns, and the influence of institutional culture are explored. In addition to the case studies and survey findings, the report includes a bibliography of related articles, reports, and Web sites, along with the survey instrument and a selection of recent research library position descriptions with significant e-science support components.
A free and open webcast is being planned for the fall. The report is available online at http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/escience_report2010.pdf.
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