Data managing in academic libraries

“…If librarians are going to continue being relevant in the age of Google and Google Scholar, they need to move beyond the document and facilitate access to the increasing amounts of data that is being made available on the web. …” (Stuart, 2010)

Data management is the process of ensuring the accuracy, currency, storage, security and accessibility of data sets and other digital files in perpetuity. Its archival element is often referred to as data curation. In fulfilling some of their archival and preservation responsibilities, academic libraries should take greater responsibility for the overall coordination of data management in the future, and consider the long-term institutional needs of faculty members and researchers who generate data. Will this data be available for analysis by other researchers? Can it be using for other data mining purposes?

What do we mean by research data and data management? Research data is often defined as the information (e.g. data sets, microarray, numerical data, clinical trial information, textual records, images, sound, etc.) generated or used as quantitative evidence in primary research. This research data is distinguished by the fact that it is accepted by the research community as a means to validate research findings, observations and hypotheses. According to CARL/ABRC, the majority of research data produced by academic institutions in Canada is not being properly or systematically archived in repositories. This suggests that a more concerted effort is needed to bring together experts at Canadian academic institutions to initiate data management projects. One recent study conducted by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) found that only 3 Canadian organizations out of 110 systematically archived data in repositories and of those all were archived in the United States. Put simply, research data generated in higher education in Canada is not managed in any coherent manner and much of this information is under-utilized or inaccessible for knowledge-creation purposes. While some disciplines and research areas have institutional, national and international supports in place for data management, this support is neither coordinated nor comprehensive.