Between Summer Fall 2019 - Summer 2021, Albertsons Library’s Research Data Management Group worked on implementing a strategic agenda. This document is a report of the activities undertaken in response to that plan. In particular, the group reports its progress related to team development, outreach and marketing, and the development of tools and resources

Albertsons Library Research Data Management Team

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Boise State University - ScholarWorks

Boise State University ScholarWorks Data Management Services Data Management 2021 Research Data Management Group Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report Albertsons Library Research Data Management Team This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License Research Data Management Group Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021):Final Report1. Team DevelopmentActivity 1.1: Develop guidelines to support and assess the behavior and performance of theResearch Data Management Group’s consultation services.Albertsons Library has a proven track record of effective customer service. The foundation of this work istraining and ongoing assessment based on established professional standards. In particular, theInstruction and Research Services unit utilizes the Reference and User Services Association’s Guidelinesfor Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers. To ensure that the Library’sResearch Data Management Group is providing similarly effective service, they will work on identifyingthe core elements of providing successful consultation and support interactions and develop a set ofstandards similar to the RUSA guidelines.Action item 1.1.1: Identify core elements of successful consultationsAction item 1.1.2: Develop a set of guidelines based on the best practices/lessons learned from priordata consultations and related literatureAction item 1.1.3: As the team receives consultation requests, review those interactions based on theguidelines, refining as neededPROGRESSRDMG has made progress on this goal. As a result of discussions related to our weekly readings, thegroup began exploring other collections of library and data competencies. A decision was made tocompile and modify competencies that we determined to be relevant to data management activities.Ellie Dworak gathered the competencies into a single document, grouped them by type of skill, andprovided a scale where group members could rate their level of skill.The comprehensive list of competencies serves as an excellent tool to assist data management librariansin gauging areas of strengths and weaknesses. The development of the competencies list will beincluded as a chapter in the forthcoming ACRL publication on data literacy. Going forward, the RDMG willuse these competencies for training and recruitment needs and for team assessment purposes. Priorresearch consultation experience prompted RDMG to develop guidelines for services provided toresearchers based on initial contact and submission timeline.Activity 1.2: Successfully integrate the new Scholarly Communications and Data ManagementHead into the Research Data Management GroupAlbertsons Library is currently seeking a new Head of Scholarly Communications and Data Management.Once identified, that individual will be successfully onboarded to the unit and Research DataManagement Group.Action item 1.2.1.: Generate a list of files, folders, and other resources that should be shared with the newunit headAction item 1.2.2: Generate a list of individuals the new unit head should meet with in regards to datamanagement servicesAction item 1.2.3: Plan a series of meetings to explain how the library’s different data managementservices are providedRDMG Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report - Page 1 of 6Action item 1.2.4: Schedule time during the regular Data Management meetings to discuss in detail thestrategic agenda, the expected outcomes, and strategies we will use to accomplish itPROGRESSElisabeth Shook was successfully onboarded as the new Head of Scholarly Communications and DataManagement using the materials created and gathered by Michelle Armstrong. Elisabeth has attendedweekly RDMG meetings since her arrival in 2020 and is fully integrated into the team.Activity 1.3: Continue to develop the library’s Research Data Management Group’s skills andcompetenciesAs documented in the previous strategic agenda, the Research Data Management Group has continuedto maintain a successful record of self-development. These efforts have helped establish research datamanagement initiatives requiring progressively more sophisticated knowledge and skills. The ResearchData Management Group will continue actively pursuing formal learning opportunities and self-educationactivities to fill gaps where specific knowledge and skills are needed.Action item 1.3.1: Continue to incorporate into regular group meetings discussions of selected articlesand resources, and how they apply to our workAction item 1.3.2: As needed, utilize professional literature and other research to develop and improveour services and activitiesAction item 1.3.3: Work with the new SCDM unit head to obtain any needed training in order for them tofully participate in the groupPROGRESSContinuing education in the field of data management is an ongoing process. Relevant developments arediscussed as they come up via suggestions from group members or as they appear in the news of thefield. Additionally, when time allows, the weekly agenda setter selects a short article and leads discussionwith the group. One example of this in 2020 was the use of literature to assist in the development of a setof RDMG competencies, used to better gauge current knowledge and skills of group members. The list ofcompetencies described in 1.1 above were created by the team and self-assessments were completed.Work to finish identifying and filling gaps is ongoing.Activity 1.4: Develop an ability to explain and apply descriptive, variable-level, structural, andadministrative metadata to specific research contexts.In order to communicate the importance of, and to provide valuable guidance about, metadatastandards, the Research Data Management Group will utilize professional literature and other resourcesto acquire a greater understanding of various metadata types, and will develop and deliver a workshopfor the Boise State community.Action item 1.4.1: Use regular meeting times to discuss and obtain a thorough understanding of thedifferent types of metadata.Action item 1.4.2: Create a section of the Research Support website on this topic.PROGRESSMetadata continues to be a topic of interest among group members and the RDMG plans to further theirwork in this area to demystify and emphasize the importance of metadata with Boise State researchers.RDMG Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report - Page 2 of 62. Outreach/MarketingActivity 2.1: Revisit outreach/marketing goals when incoming Head of ScholarlyCommunications & Data Management is integrated into the team based on capacity ofAlbertsons Library to provide direct services to the Boise State community.PROGRESSThe Research Data Management Group has had preliminary discussions regarding possible outreach andmarketing activities such as implementing the existing communication plan and marketing futureworkshops. Advice from the Outreach Coordinator has emphasized the importance of focusing on theend user and how our services support their needs. With this understanding, it is important for theResearch Data Management Group to consider the capacity of the Library to deliver these services.The RDMG has discussed ways to increase focus on the end user and support their needs throughoutreach and marketing. The team identified a need for example data management plans and haveworked with previous users to upload their DMP’s to ScholarWorks. An additional need that was identifiedto serve the end user was an increase in team members on RDMG so we may increase capacity and domore management plans concurrently. A plan has been developed to invite the liaison librarian in theuser’s field of research as a way to gain buy-in from other librarians and potentially greater participation indata management plans library wide. In the meantime the RDMG has created an intake form withinformation about how much we can offer depending on when the proposal is due. The intake form isalso designed to save time by requesting appropriate documentation from PIs before we conduct thedata management interview.The RDMG Team and SCDM completed outreach for the following services:● Hosting datasets in ScholarWorks● Minting DOIs for datasets that reside in ScholarWorks● Helping to create and populate researcher ORCID portfolio● PlumX metricsIn addition, our data management planning services have created word-of-mouth referrals, and as such,an accidental mode of outreach.3. EducationActivity 3.1: Create and test a program of action-oriented training sessions.The Research Data Management Group will create and test a program of action-oriented trainingsessions to assist researchers and faculty. Possible sessions include: metadata, creating a researchpresentation poster, writing a data management plan, establishing a file structure for a research project,selecting journals for optimal discoverability and impact, and developing learning objectives for in-coursedata management lessons.Action Item 3.1.1: Finalize list of training sessions to offer.Action Item 3.1.2: Develop and offer training sessions.Action Item 3.1.3: Define success and assess training sessions.PROGRESSEllie Dworak and Megan Davis created training sessions for students on creating a research presentationposter and writing research abstracts. Both sessions were held early on in the Spring 2020 semester,shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic hit locally, and were lightly attended. Additional sessions onRDMG Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report - Page 3 of 6research posters and data management were presented via Zoom in March 2021 as part of ResearchComputing Days. Feedback received from attendees was positive but more work needs to be done whenmarketing and assessing workshops presented by RDMG.Activity 3.2: Offer training sessions to library staff on organizing, naming, and managing filesand foldersThe Research Data Management Group will offer in-house training sessions for library staff and faculty ondata organization, file naming, and the active management of files and folders.Action Item 3.2.1: Adapt and revise content from Megan’s 2018 ILA presentation into library staff trainingsession; offer session   once during Fall 2019 and once during Spring 2020.Action Item 3.2.2: Define success and assess training sessions, focusing on how library staff use or don’tuse information learned.PROGRESSMegan Davis presented on “Managing the Chaos: Digital File Organization” in November 2019 where itwas attended by ~12 Albertsons Library staff and faculty. Anecdotal feedback from attendees waspositive and Megan plans to offer this workshop again in the future for interested students, staff, andfaculty.4. Tools and ResourcesActivity 4.1: Refine, professionalize, and fully implement previously developed tools, content,and resources that support the DMP process.Improve the data management-related content available to Boise State researchers by refining andprofessionalizing current material and adding recently created tools. Examples of tools already created orcurrently under development are a costing guide to aid researchers in adding data management-relatedcosts to their budget proposal (Activity 1.5 in the 2017-2019 Strategic Agenda) and a spreadsheet of datatypes to facilitate more specific descriptions in data management plans. An additional spreadsheet ofrecommended research lifecycle tools is also available..● The team reviewed and updated the research lifecycle tools spreadsheet to be more inclusive ofthe entire lifecycle, and clear.● Created a workflow behind the intake form, using Airtable. This allows us to assign a lead for eachdata management project, identify the stage of processing for each project, and ensure that allstages are completed in a timely manner.Action Item 4.1.1: Review and refine current content in the Data Management Planning section of theLibrary Research Support siteAction Item 4.1.2: Fully implement content in the Organizing and Documenting section.PROGRESSContent in the Data Management Planning section of the Library Research Support site section wasrefined and updated. This will continue as the entire RDMG rethinks the purpose of layout and contentwithin the site.The team worked together to refine the language on the DMP page of the Library’s Research Support site.The DMP Consultations page was updated to indicate the service level provided, dependent on howclose to the proposal deadline the team is contacted.RDMG Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report - Page 4 of 6Content in the Organizing and Documenting section was refined and updated and this will continue asthe entire RDMG rethinks the purpose of layout and content within the site. Though content in this sectionhas not been fully edited, Megan has presented on file management. File management is also addressedas part of each DMP Consultation.Activity 4.2: Continue reviewing and updating the university-specific content providedthrough the DMPToolIn the course of a DMPTool review in 2019 (Activity 4.3 in 2017-2019 Strategic Agenda), it was discoveredthat local administrators have the ability to create additional guidance language specific to theirinstitutional research practices. The Research Data Management Group will continue to review theguidance language currently in place and add or update it as necessary.Action Item 4.2.1: Continue to revise guidance language available to BSU users of the DMPTool.Action Item 4.2.2: Communicate with appropriate stakeholders for additional guidance content (e.g.storage and security)Action Item 4.2.3: Announce updated functionality of the DMPTool to those who have used the tool inthe past.PROGRESSMegan Davis and Michelle Armstrong completed the major update of guidance language within theDMPTool. Small updates continue to take place as the DMPTool makes its own changes. Michellecoordinated with OIT and OSP to get appropriate guidance language, which was then incorporated intothe DMPTool. Updated DMPTool functionality still needs to be announced to the broader Universityresearch community.Activity 4.3: Identify the best resources out there that we can use as reference materials whenconsulting. (Ex. FAIR Data standards, ICPSR guides, etc.)The Research Data Management Group continues to seek out reference materials and best practiceguidance to assist during the data management plan process. Examples of these types of resourcesinclude FAIR Data standards and ICPSR guides. These support documents will be collected, organized,and made available via the Data Management website as links and/or handouts.Action Item 4.3.1: Review current guidance material and boilerplate language.Action Item 4.3.2: Collect additional appropriate guidance material and add to the DM website.PROGRESSThe guidance rubrics have been reviewed, and are regularly checked for updates and revised whennecessary. Appropriate materials are discussed in team meetings and added to the site. This will continueas the RDMG rethinks the layout and content of the data management website.5. Develop a plan to integrate data visualization services in the SCDM unitActivity 5.1: Identify and develop a suite of data visualization servicesAscertain the needs of Boise State faculty, students, and staff who use data visualization for theirresearch, classroom instruction, and reporting and use this information to develop a suite of datavisualization services, including instructional content and consulting.Action item 5.1.1: Needs assessment and program designAction item 5.1.2: Develop consulting services and instructional contentRDMG Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report - Page 5 of 6Activity 5.2: Apply for and obtain special/grant funding to support the creation of a small labarea, student support, and advanced training related to data visualization.Action item 5.2.1: Create data visualization lab plan5.2.2: Identify potential funding sources and apply for fundsPROGRESSStrategic Agenda item 5 was put on hold in April of 2020 due to COVID and a need for Ellie Dworak tospend time on library assessment and assessment planning. In addition, these assessment efforts andlibrary strategic planning efforts will inform the need for this type of service.In the summer of 2021, in consideration of University needs, Ellie’s job was revised to Research DataLibrarian. This includes, but is not limited to, services related to data visualization. She is working with theSCDM unit to envision her role and related library services. As a result, strategic planning item 5 is nolonger relevant to the team’s function.NotesContributors to the Fall 2019-Summer 2021 Strategic Agenda include Michelle Armstrong, Megan Davis, EllieDworak, Yitzack Paul, and Elisabeth Shook.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.RDMG Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report - Page 6 of 6

Research Data Management Group Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report

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Research Data Management Group Strategic Agenda (Fall 2019-Summer 2021): Final Report

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