DataQ: A Collaborative Platform for Sharing Knowledge and Developing Best Practices to Support Research Data in Libraries

Abstract

Objective As librarians take on new roles in supporting the management of research data, they may require opportunities and tools for professional development. To address this need, librarians at the University of Colorado Boulder began exploring ways to offer librarians guidance for answering research data questions. Methods The DataQ project is an IMLS­funded effort by the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA), and the Great Plains Network (GPN) to develop an online knowledge­base of research data questions and answers curated for and by the library community. Content will be crowd­sourced and reviewed by an editorial team. The site will also include links to resources, best practices, and practical approaches for working with researchers to address specific research data issues. Results The DataQ project is intended to address the growing need for resources to assist libraries with providing support for the research data needs of faculty and students. The project team is currently establishing its editorial team and designing the site and will be seeking content contributions during 2015. The project will also establish an online community of professionals who will collaborate in the development of practical, authoritative, and peer­reviewed answers to research data questions. Conclusions With the management and curation of research data becoming a priority for many institutions, libraries, as campus centers for research services and infrastructure, are often looked to as a point of support for research data questions, and practical tools, such as DataQ, are essential for supporting this work in libraries