We are excited to announce that the Data Curation Network (DCN) will collaborate once again with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) on examining institutional expenses for public access research data. The awarded Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant (LG-254930-OLS-23) will allow continuation and further development of the Realities of Academic Data Sharing (RADS) Initiative, initially funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF-2135874). The initial exploratory RADS work revealed the complexity of the institutional research ecosystem at six DCN institutions; this IMLS grant will allow for further research into developing cost models for data sharing, as well as provide insights into how institutions, specifically libraries, can best plan for, and allocate resources for research support.
Cynthia Hudson Vitale at ARL will continue as PI for the RADS Initiative, and will assume the lead PI role for the new IMLS grant. Other DCN member institutions and representatives continuing with this second phase of research are:
- Duke University, with Joel Herdnon as co-PI
- University of Minnesota, with Alicia Hofelich Mohr as co-PI
- Washington University in St. Louis, with Jennifer Moore as co-PI
Shawna Taylor at ARL will continue in a project management and co-PI capacity for the RADS Initiative, and Mikala Narlock, DCN Director, will officially join the research team as a co-PI.
Speaking on the IMLS award and continuation of the RADS Initiative, Jody Gray, Associate University Librarian for Research at the University of Minnesota, DCN Advisory Board member, and current ARL Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee member, states:
“It is wonderful that ARL and the DCN can continue this vital research. It will bring some much-needed structural guidance for academic and research libraries to continue to grow and sustain this work into the future. We look forward to bringing diverse perspectives to this project.”
Excitingly, a portion of the grant will be used to recruit a diverse set of five institutions to participate in this research – and as an incentive for participating, these five institutions will receive a no-cost two-year membership in the DCN! This grant will also enable the DCN to hire an additional full-time employee for two years to assist these institutions with local, institutional research-data services outreach and service development.
Read ARL’s press release: https://www.arl.org/news/arl-awarded-grant-to-continue-research-on-institutional-expenses-for-public-access-to-research-data/
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
