Data management plans, what they are and how libraries can help

Formal data management plans (DMPs) are becoming required for projects funded through UK and EU sources. Data sets are increasingly being expected to accompany papers in order to encourage re-analysis and scholarly transparency, and DMPs outline expectations of how datasets will be presented as final research outputs. Considerations for a DMP include : format, privacy, licensing and re-use restrictions, archiving, persistent identification and compliance to funder’s and institutional policies. Support for researchers creating DMPs can come from collaboration between University librarians, research support offices and ICT departments to create services that fit research needs. Some Universities (Duke University, M.I.T., Edinburgh, Oxford) now have data librarians to support this work. At University of Canterbury we are investigating how UC Library can support researchers in development of DMPs. Up-skilling and advocacy will be required in order for Libraries to provide Library Guides, training and advice. Promotion in the research community will be crucial.