Data Management for Libraries

Data management is a topic of growing importance for librarians, especially academic librarians. The growth of technologies impacting research and how it is conducted, coupled with the ever-increasing demand for open access, means libraries are being called upon to not only support data management but also play an integral part in data management. Data Management for Libraries is an introductory text on data management for librarians. With eight brief chapters, it seeks to be a guide for new data management. Starting with defining data management, it moves through the life cycle of data, talking about describing, preserving and accessing data. Krier and Strasser walk readers through the steps involved in creating a data management plan. It requires convincing arguments that will persuade researchers to create a data management plan; this can be done collaboratively; thus, the authors give tips for conducting successful data management interviews. The book also gives guidance for dealing with sensitive questions such as ownership, intellectual property, sharing and access, metadata and preservation. The chapters are well-written and give a clear and concise overview of the topics raised. In setting out to provide a short guide, it does miss a lot and should not be considered a text book; however, it serves as an excellent springboard for further reading if needed. If you are new to data management or your library is considering developing its support for data management, then this guide makes an excellent starting point.