Orienting Data Services in the Library

Abstract

This chapter describes the evolution of a department in a large academic library dedicated to the provision of research support for data and related digital scholarship services. Topics covered include an overview of organizational changes and priorities in the library, alignment of services to available infrastructure, and approaches to outreach and instruction that have been successful in meeting ever-changing researcher needs. The authors describe staffing and staff training, data repositories and related systems, and common topics covered in consultations and workshops over the past decade with particular focus on development and delivery of a Carpentries-based instruction program. The chapter concludes with reflections on considerations for the future and broad recommendations for the ways libraries can continue to meet emerging data science needs in a research university context.