The data librarian in the Netherlands
a exploratory investigation into digital research data and the
role of university libraries - Summary in English
Master Thesis Information Science July 2011 University of Amsterdam Faculty of Humanities Supervisor: Dr. H.J. Voorbij J.W. Puttenstein StudentID 5779731 Gerstakker 12, 8091 NB Wezep wiljan.puttenstein@gmail.com
SUMMARY
Current scientific research is data-intensive. Scientists increasingly recognize the importance of good data management during research and the storage of digital data for future reuse. This is an
international trend. In recent years the interest in storing and making available digital research data has grown in the Netherlands.
University libraries support scientists in their research and teaching by providing and managing large quantities of scientific information. This information is increasingly available in digital form only. This thesis focuses on the question of how university libraries can play a role in managing and making available digital research data, both during and after research.
The study is exploratory in nature and consists of three parts. First, a literature search was made in order to describe the concept of digital research data and its related aspects. Another literature search was then made for mapping the developments that affect the position and function of the academic library since the sixties of the twentieth century. Secondly, a desk research was made into the websites of the thirteen Dutch university libraries. The aim of this research was establishing the state of affairs of digital research data on the one hand, and analyzing current and future policy on the basis of available long-term policy planning on the other hand. Thirdly, eight employees whose daily work involves digital research data have been interviewed.
Each of the investigated Dutch university libraries now offers services related to digital research data or intends to do so. The desk research and interviews show that libraries see a possible role for themselves in every phase of the research process. In the research phase libraries can provide facilities for the short to medium term storage of data sets. After the investigation linking data sets to
publications is the activity most frequently mentioned.
To researchers and students it is not always clear which facilities with regard to data management a library can offer. It is important to assess the need for support in data management with researchers in order to determine what services can be offered by libraries and to what extent. It is also desirable to make scientists aware of the importance of good data management. By establishing a data desk each library can create a central service to which researchers can apply for advice and support regarding research data. Libraries could also point out the importance of data management to students by including this subject in programs for academic skills.
The position of data librarian is managed by libraries in two different ways. The first is to expand the job responsibilities of the information and collection specialists already in service. This is in particular the case in situations where it is not yet sufficiently clear how much support scientists need and what the scope of service and the size of personnel formation will be. The second is to appoint data librarians who will entirely concentrate on supporting researchers with regard to digital research data. In both cases, the data librarian works in close cooperation with the scientists. The library staff is therefore close to the primary research process. If the data librarian is moved from his traditional library environment into the immediate vicinity of the research scientist, the model of embedded librarian can be applied. If the tasks are almost entirely focused on providing support with regard to data management and if the information specialist works in the immediate vicinity of the researcher, the employee could be called embedded data librarian.
