The proliferation, management, and preservation of research data is one of the most pressing challenges facing research libraries. ARL works with members, funders, and partners to advance FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data principles by aligning institutional policies with funder mandates and best practices in scholarship and digital stewardship.
Current Programs
Realities of Academic Data Sharing (RADS) Initiative
Public access to research data is critical to advancing science and solving real world problems. In recent years a number of funding agencies have required the management and broad sharing of research data and other related research outputs to accelerate the impacts of their investments.
Recent Reports
Implementing Effective Data Practices Toolkit
This communication toolkit draws upon the outcomes of a 2019 conference, “Implementing Effective Data Practices: A Conference on Collaborative Research Support,” convened by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), California Digital Library (CDL), Association of American Universities (AAU), and Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and sponsored by the US National Science Foundation (NSF).
ARL/CARL Joint Task Force on Research Data Services
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL)/Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) Joint Task Force on Research Data Services was formed in early 2020 with a two-fold purpose: (1) to demonstrate and commit to the roles research libraries have in stewarding research data as part of institution-wide research support services and (2) to guide the development of resources for the ARL and CARL memberships in advancing their organizations as collaborative partners with respect to research data services in the context of FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) data principles and the US National Academies’ Open Science by Design framework.
Letters and Comments
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ARL Comments on Draft Genomic Data Management and Sharing Policy (March 2022)
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ARL Comments on Draft NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing (January 2020)
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ARL Responds to US Office of Science and Technology Policy Request for Comments on Desirable Characteristics of Repositories (March 2020)
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IARLA Supports the Sorbonne Statement on Research Data Rights (April 2020)
Webinars and Recordings
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COGR, FDP, and ARL: Putting Numbers Behind Institutional Expenses for Public Access to Research Data at CNI Meeting – Video Online (April 2022)
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AAU-APLU Working Group Discusses Public Access to Research Data at CNI Meeting—Video Online (January 2019)
Related Resources
Research Data Management and Sharing Policies
This webpage provides resources and information for research libraries about US and Canadian research data management and sharing policies – focusing heavily on the institutional implications and resourcing needed within higher education to meet these policies.
SPEC Kit 354: Data Curation (May 2017)
This SPEC Kit explores the infrastructure that ARL member institutions are using for data curation, which data curation services are offered, who may use them, which disciplines demand services most, library staffing levels, policies and workflows, and the challenges of supporting these activities.
SPEC Kit 334: Research Data Management Services (July 2013)
SPEC Kit 334 surveys ARL member libraries on their activities related to access, management, and archiving of research data at their institutions. The survey explores the organization of research data management services (including a few questions on broader data support services), how they are staffed and funded, and what services they offer and to whom, among other questions. It includes examples of research data policies, data retention policies, data management plan tools, job descriptions, data needs assessment tools, data archive web pages, and staff resources.
