Assistant Professor & Liaison Librarian University of Illinois Chicago
Libraries at high-level research and other academic institutions have been involved in research data management services (RDMS) for more than ten years. As service demands increase due to funder, journal, and federal mandates, institutions have adapted their service models. To discover the factors that affect research data management service sustainability, a survey was distributed to data listservs and forums asking about changes in services, staffing, funding, accountability, and planning.
The reponses were analyzed and presented in cohorts according to service years (1-3Y, 3-5Y, 5-10Y, and 10+Y) when meaningful. The data show that both technical and advisory services have increased, staffing skill sets have diversified while dedicated staff haven't increased proportionally to services, the service provider (single RDS position) hasn't shifted but the organizational structure relative to stakeholders has, and strategic planning specifically for RDS has sharply decreased. The poster will present select data from this study and link to the postprint manuscript accepted by portal:Libraries and the Academy for a 2024 issue.
This study offers more detail into what services have been maintained or developed by cohort years so that institutions approaching a similar stage can more easily plan and implement RDMS for themselves.