COAR recently hosted a members-only webinar on the role of open repositories in research data management (RDM). RDM is a large component of open science, and the role of repositories is crucial in supporting RDM. Many repository services that began by collecting articles have expressed interest in expanding their operations to include research data, but it is difficult to know where to start.
Several COAR members shared their stories about how they began their research data management services. Speakers Robin Rice from University of Edinburgh; Sven Vlaeminck from ZBW Leibniz Information Centre for Economics; Barbara Hirschmann from ETH Zurich; Lluis Anglada & Mireia Alcalá Ponce de León from Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya (CSUC); Rebeca Marin Del Campo & Marisa Pérez Aliende from Madrono Consorcio; and Jose Antonio Galeano Cardenas from Del Rosario University greatly contributed to this discussion.
While every organisation and jurisdictional context is different, there are many shared challenges with adopting research data management services. Given the complexity and expertise related to RDM, some organisations can find it overwhelming. But, organisations just have to start somewhere, and then build and expand expertise and services incrementally over time.
The research data management lifecycle can work as a good metaphor for designing services: 'before research begins', 'while work is in progress', 'at the end of research'. Absolutely critical is that RDM service help researchers. If services are built on and respond to existing needs and requirements of the research community, they can greatly help increase the reputation and visibility of the library as a partner in research.
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