Seeding the Commons - Monash University Research Data Collections Project

The Research Data Collections Project led by Monash University Library aimed to identify and describe research data collections arising from publicly funded research, and to showcase these collections by contributing information about them to Research Data Australia (RDA). As a result of this project, 60+ Monash researchers have been provided with an additional channel to promote their research, including showcasing their work to new generalist and cross-disciplinary audiences. For those researchers with data available for re-use, an increase in research impact (e.g. citation of publications) may result. For those researchers with data that is restricted or only available by negotiation, appearing in RDA may still increase opportunities for collaboration and highlight data collection and analysis techniques that may be of interest to other researchers. The in-depth nature of the interviews has also enabled the Library to learn more about researchers? data management practices and needs. This information will inform the continuous improvement of the Library's data management advisory services and technical infrastructure. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the project has led to a dramatic increase in the participation of Library staff in data management activities. By building on the knowledge and networks of our subject librarians, and carefully structuring the project around a buddy system that provided staff with a safe environment and stage process in which to learn, the project successfully involved more than thirty Library staff in addition to the staff that were formally seconded to the project team.