Transcript Document
Data Management Services: Giving people what they didn’t know they wanted Amanda Nixon Presented Thursday 25 September 2014 By CAUL/ANDS Webinar eResearch @Flinders eResearch@Flinders • A service in the Library to support eResearch at Flinders • Operating since April 2012 • The Library was already embedded in teaching and learning – this was the start of getting as embedded in the research process – Using core library skills to deliver • • • • Data Management advice and assistance Referral to eResearch tools and services Open scholarship support (including the University’s digital repository) Statistical consulting – All underpinned with a strong service ethic How did this happen? Mission Statement Operationally • ANDS projects (Seeding the Commons and Data Capture) • ANDS Metadata Store project • Small restructure in the Library Strategically • Recognition that the University has significant investments in eResearch • New tools were in the pipeline • Important to get value Why the Library? Mission Statement The Library put its hand up because: • Existing relationships with researchers • Strength in the area – Already engaged in previous ANDS projects • Ways to use existing skills – Metadata – Open access/licensing/repository – Referral • To diversity and strengthen services to research How did you get to do that? • I have a really varied background: • Flexible Delivery • Liaison (Law/Humanities) • Digital resources • Repositories/open access/ERA • Had connections that • saw me brought into the first ANDS projects • Nominated as the Flinders rep for the first round of ANDS bootcamps • Built up knowledge and networks from there Do you do it by yourself? • NO! • Liz WalkleyHall – Open Scholarship and Data Management Librarian • Yasmine Shaheem – eResearch Support Librarian • Plus some help from casual staff • No one does data management full time and we try to spread the skills and experience between us More about the data management bit Reporting We provide • Data management planning services including • Referral to collaboration options • eResearch tools and services (Eg Quadrant) • Assistance with ARC funding applications • Research higher degree candidate training • Creation of metadata about research datasets • We don’t have a data repository – but leverage federally funded data storage for open access datasets (including handling applications) • Provide advice about compliance with publisher and funder requirements for open data WeReporting work with • Researchers! • Other library staff • Flinders Information Technology Services • Security • Infrastructure • Applications • Research Services Office • ARC grant requirements • Office of Graduate Research • Digital Theses • University Archivist • External eResearch services providers (especially eResearch SA) Challenges Reporting • It’s still new and special – What is it that you do exactly? • Can be hard to maintain the “bounce” when doing lots of outreach and advocacy • Not all of the new eResearch tools have been delivered according to plan so there is some expectation management Continued engagement with researchers about their metadata Successes Responsibilities – eResearch • We’re still here! Yay! • Inclusion in the research higher degree training schedule • Inclusion in the Information Services and the Research operational plans • Great uptake of eResearch services by Flinders researchers (almost 200TB of Federally funded data storage so far) • People are now starting to come to us Gotchas Responsibilities – Data Management • ARC grant application requirements • Publisher open data requirements • Managing digital theses (and therefore associated data) • Federally funded data storage Where next? Responsibilities – Digital Reositories • Plan to mainstream services through Liaison Librarians – when? • New developments in local IT infrastructure • See which way the wind blows with the future of eResearch infrastructure investment • Cross fingers for inclusion of datasets into future rounds of research assessment exercises (eg ERA or its successor) Reflections • I never thought I’d be doing this when I grew up • There is plenty of room for non technical people in eResearch support • Cultural change takes time and persistence • You need to really like working with researchers and appreciate how they work • Communication is the key! Questions? Amanda Nixon Manager, eResearch@Flinders [email protected] 08 8201 5217