Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
ORCID IDs
Delserone https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3864-1279
Document Type
Letter to the Editor
Date of this Version
9-13-2024
Citation
Science (September 13, 2024) 385(6714):1174
doi: 10.1126/science.ade0789
Abstract
As funding agencies and publishers reiterate research data sharing expectations (1), many higher-education institutions have demonstrated their commitment to the long-term stewardship of research data by connecting researchers to local infrastructure, with dedicated staffing, that eases the burden of data sharing. Institutional repositories are an example of this investment (2). They provide support for researchers in sharing data that might otherwise be lost: data without a disciplinary repository, data from projects with limited funding, or data that are too large to sustainably store elsewhere. The staffing and technical infrastructure provided by institutional repositories ensures responsible access to information while considering long-term preservation and alignment with international standards (3–5). To ensure continued access to invaluable research data, it is essential that publishers and funding agencies recognize institutional repositories as responsible and reliable data sharing solutions.
Institutional repositories support researchers by connecting them to the vast local networks of support that, in turn, make data more discoverable and reusable. Beyond technical solutions, many academic institutions provide front-line services to researchers, such as data curation, collaborative and reproducible workflows, and guidance in meeting funding agency and publisher mandates. Researchers highly value the support provided by institutional data curators (6). Furthermore, while institutional repositories are prepared to assist researchers in adhering to data sharing mandates for federally funded projects, institutional services for data sharing are particularly valuable for researchers with little or no grant funding. The costs of data management and sharing through institutional repositories may be associated with lower overall direct data management and sharing costs for the researcher (7). Moreover, institutional repositories are substantially more likely to persist than disciplinary repositories, suggesting that institutional repositories provide sustainable access to data that are critical for reproducible research (8).
Institutionally managed infrastructure continues to be one of the best options for researchers to publish and preserve their scholarly outputs. Although not all data can or should be shared, and institutional repositories are not appropriate for all data, they remain essential infrastructure. The use of institutional repositories in turn allows institutions to view and understand the value of data sharing, which moves the needle from supporting data sharing compliance toward recognizing and celebrating data’s value as a research product and public good. Scientific institutions, including journals and government agencies, should adopt policies that recognize that institutional repositories are a suitable solution for data sharing, access, and preservation.
Included in
Databases and Information Systems Commons, Data Science Commons, Scholarly Communication Commons, Scholarly Publishing Commons
Comments
Copyright 2024, AAAS. Used by permission