2018 Charleston Library Conference

As recognition of the value of open science increases, data sharing, reproducibility, and preservation have become critical to the research process. As a result, scientific communities have developed data repositories, funding agency have introduced mandates and best practices that require the creation of data management plans, and journal publishers have implemented data sharing policies. Such initiatives play a pivotal role in the open data movement. There is also an increasing awareness among all stakeholders that data should be FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable). Yet, despite researchers’ increased awareness for the need for more efficient data access and sharing, the transition into a common research practice is still slow.
 
This presentation describes open-source (technological) approaches that facilitate data sharing, preservation, and best practices. However, continuing challenges remain in improving researcher data management practices, such as accurate metadata and data citations. For qualitative data, there are further unique challenges around data privacy, context, and access. Most data are often stored haphazardly, outside the bounds of good digital preservation practices, leading to broken links and lost data.
 
This session is designed to raise awareness about these important issues surrounding data and will include a guided interactive discussion with the audience focusing on the continuing challenges and potential solutions to making data useful, accessible, and persistent.