This document summarizes a study on academic librarians' preparation for and attitudes toward research data services (RDS). The study found that most librarian respondents do not currently provide RDS, but believe they are important. While some librarians feel prepared, many lack skills, training or opportunities to develop them. Barriers include insufficient support or priority from their institutions. The study concludes libraries are transitioning to RDS by realigning roles and developing new skills for next-generation librarianship focused on data management.

1. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Academic Librarians and Research Data
Services: Preparation and Attitudes
Carol Tenopir
University of Tennessee
ctenopir@utk.edu
Robert Sandusky, University of Illinois at Chicago
Suzie Allard and Ben Birch, University of Tennessee
IFLA 2012
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2. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Research Data Services (RDS)are…
• …services that address the full data
lifecycle, including the data management
plan, digital curation (selection,
preservation, maintenance, and archiving),
and metadata creation and conversion.
• Services can be hands-on or consultative.
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3. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Data Lifecycle
Plan
Analyze Collect
Integrate Assure
Discover Describe
Preserve
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4. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Assessment of Stakeholders Informs All
DataONE Activities.
Public Officials
Publishers
Data Managers
Libraries
Citizen-
Scientists Students & Librarians
scientists
& Teachers
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5. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Librarian & Library Assessment
Plan
Analyze Collect
Integrate Assure
Discover Describe
The librarian ponders
whether she has the Preserve
background, skills, and
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education to provide RDS

6. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Academic Librarians Survey
• Distribution
– 948 librarians at 111 ARL libraries who
were most likely to be involved in RDS
– Librarians at ACRL libraries (not covered
here)
• Responses
– 223 ARL librarians (23.5% response rate)
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7. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Current Overall Engagement with RDS
Do you interact with faculty or students
in support of their RDS as part
of your regular job responsibilities? (n = 223)
100
Frequency of Responses
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Integral to job (27.9%) Occasionally (40.5%) No (31.5%)
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8. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Librarians’ Skills, Knowledge, and Training
Necessary to Provide RDS
I have the skills, knowledge, and training necessary to provide RDS (n=159)
Integral Agree Strongly
Occasional Agree Somewhat
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
No
Disagree Somewhat
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Disagree Strongly
I have sufficient subject expertise to provide RDS to my patrons. (n = 159)
Integral Agree Strongly
Agree Somewhat
Occasional
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
No Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Strongly
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
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9. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Librarians’ Skills, Knowledge, and Training
Necessary to Provide RDS
My library provides opportunities to develop skills related to RDS. (n = 159)
Integral Agree Strongly
Agree Somewhat
Occasional
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
No Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Strongly
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
My library supports me to attend conferences or workshops elsewhere
related to RDS. (n = 156)
Integral Agree Strongly
Occasional Agree Somewhat
Neither Agree Nor Disagree
No Disagree Somewhat
Disagree Strongly
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 9

10. Center for Information and Communication Studies
For Those Not Currently Involved in
RDS, Potential Motivations for Involvement
No (n = 160)
Rank Motivation
#1 If my patrons request RDS
#2 If RDS became a responsibility in my job
#3 If my institution becomes more involved with RDS
#4 If my institution develops an IR that accepts data
#5 If external funding agencies require RDS
#6 If RDS becomes important to subject disciplines I support
#7 If I learn more about RDS
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11. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Another survey of library directors shows, by
type of institution…….
Associates Colleges Baccalaureate Colleges
17% Yes 16% Yes
No No
83% 84%
Research/Doctoral Has your library provided
opportunities for staff to
31% Yes
develop skills related to
No
69% RDS? (n = 215)
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12. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Conclusions
• Most respondents do not yet do RDS
• Some have the knowledge, skills, and
opportunities to provide RDS
• They believe RDS are important and
consistent with library mission and role
• Libraries are in transition to RDS—
requiring resetting priorities, realigning
responsibilities, and developing skills
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13. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Data Management services are part of
transforming research libraries and librarians…
This is next-generation librarianship. The curation
of research data is an activity that
has gained traction in the wake of
library and information science programs offering
concentrations in data curation and institutes in
digital curation, promising a cohort of librarians
qualified to meet data management challenges.
http://www.arl.org/rtl/eresearch/escien/nsf/leadershiproles.shtml
Authors: Patricia Hswe and Ann Holt. Part of ARL’s transforming research libraries
series.
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14. Center for Information and Communication Studies
Carol Tenopir
University of Tennessee
ctenopir@utk.edu
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