Establishing Data Management Services: The Johns Hopkins University Libraries’ Approach

Constellation F: Monday, October 31, 2:00 – 3:00PM

In January 2011 the National Science Foundation (NSF) began requiring that proposals include a two page data management plan. Research institutions who actively pursue NSF grants have responded to the new requirement by creating data management services through a variety of models that cover a range of support. Johns Hopkins University (JHU) has established a service model that is both responsive to the particular needs and expectations within the Johns Hopkins University community and draws on a fortuitous blend of expertise and experience. The Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University are home to the Digital Research and Curation Center which was awarded a five year NSF DataNet award to build sustainable infrastructure for data sharing, access, re-use and preservation. The Sheridan Libraries are also home to the Entrepreneurial Library Program, which for more than a decade has created and managed financially sustainable services for communities both within and beyond Johns Hopkins University. In the spring of 2010, collaborative work between these two units, in support of the Data Conservancy sustainability goals, was leveraged to begin review and assessment of the upcoming data management planning mandate from NSF. Research was conducted in collaboration with JHU Research Projects Administration to determine the range of needs among principal investigators (PIs) within the community. Data management planning support was piloted with JHU PIs, service support and infrastructure costs were analyzed, and new services were proposed.

The JHU Data Management services group was launched in July 2011 to provide services and support to JHU PIs to prepare two page data management plans for NSF proposals and to provide further planning and management once an award has been made. Service provision is based on a consultative support model which recognizes a diversity of needs and solutions for managing data across scientific domains. The services will be supported by a dedicated team that will grow JHU’s expertise in data management planning and build upon the core systems developed by the Data Conservancy. Continuous assessment and evaluation will be integral to the working operations of the group to ensure services evolve and are responsive to the needs and expectations of JHU PIs.

Session Leaders

G. Sayeed Choudhury is the Associate Dean for Library Digital Programs and Hodson Director of the Digital Research and Curation Center at the Sheridan Libraries of Johns Hopkins University. He is also the Director of Operations for the Institute of Data Intensive Engineering and Science (IDIES) based at Johns Hopkins.

Barbara Pralle is the Head of the Entrepreneurial Library Program (ELP) at the Sheridan Libraries of Johns Hopkins University, where she oversees the development and management of financially sustainable services. Barbara is also the interim manager for the JHU Data Management Services group.