Acquired Data Services: Challenges and Opportunities for Libraries

There are many disciplines where researchers are dependent on acquired data (or data created by others) for their own research and work products, like economics. In 2015, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City hired its first dedicated data services librarian in order to better manage the complex process of procuring data for research economists. Acquired data presents its own unique challenges that do not exist for data generated by researchers. For example, it is important for researchers to think of their data needs first and engage with the data services librarian early in their project so there is time for the acquisition process to navigate numerous budgeting and approval hurdles. Another important process is clearly communicating the terms and conditions that dictate what the research can or cannot do with the data. Libraries who hope to expand services into acquired data management could be involved at multiple stages in the lifecycle in supporting the discovery, procurement, ingesting, governing, accessing, managing, and potentially preserving of proprietary data. This presentation will cover a variety of factors libraries should consider, from the first step to the last, when taking on the service of acquiring data on behalf of researchers.