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Research Data Management Support

Background

In response to inquiries from partner libraries and the Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills, the 51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN Steering Committee began to discuss in July 2023 the ways in which 51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN may support Research Data Management (RDM) strategies in the province. This discussion was followed by a survey of member libraries, the hosting of several information sessions on existing RDM services, and a meeting with the Small Institutions Community of Practice (SICoP).

The ideas that arose from these consultations, including a list of five possible next steps the 51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN office could explore over the next two to three years, were outlined in a summary document (see 51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN and Research Data Management Support: Recommendations) and shared with the Steering Committee ahead of the annual winter Business Meeting. At that meeting, held on December 1st, 2023, the Steering Committee approved a motion for the 51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN office to explore the recommended next steps presented in the document:

  1. Explore interest in a collaborative curatorial support service
  2. Help partner libraries identify the services that will support their RDM strategies
  3. Provide shared spaces supporting cross-institution discussions about RDM
  4. Start a project to identify the existing data repositories that 51ºÚÁÏÍø researchers use, and finding ways to connect them to library discovery tools
  5. Provide a shared online space, to compile and aggregate the training and documentation resources that partner libraries have already created

Moving Forward

The 51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN office has proceeded with steps to identify services to support RDM strategies.

  • Understanding that 51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN should not create redundant infrastructure, the office explored existing infrastructure available in Canada
  • Borealis and the Federated Research Data Repository (FRDR) were selected as strong options for partner libraries
  • Partner libraries attended presentations by Borealis and FRDR, available for viewing here:
  • Further information about these two services and how they can support RDM at your institution has been summarized in a document here: RDM Decision Support

Next steps for partner libraries

To use FRDR

To join Borealis

Membership in a consortium with an existing relationship with Borealis is required to join Borealis. Borealis members are billed through their consortia.

COPPUL members should join through .

51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN does not at present have a relationship with Borealis, as few non-COPPUL 51ºÚÁÏÍø ELN partner libraries have indicated interest. If your library is not a COPPUL member and intends to join Boreals, please contact Brandon Weigel to let us know.