Library capacity for data curation services: a US national survey
ISSN: 0737-8831
Article publication date: 27 June 2019
Issue publication date: 25 October 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the landscape of data curation services among public and academic libraries in the USA, with a focus on library capacity for providing data curation services.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted an online survey by employing stratified sampling from the American Library Directory. A total of 198 responses were analyzed.
Findings
The authors’ findings provide insight into the current landscape of libraries’ data curation services. The survey participants evaluated six capacity dimensions for both public and academic libraries – value, financial, administrative, technical infrastructure, human resources and network. The ratings the participants gave to these capacity dimensions were significantly different between academic and public libraries.
Practical implications
This study suggests several areas in which libraries will benefit from further developing their capacity to successfully run data curation services.
Originality/value
This is among the first research study to address the concept of capacity in the context of libraries’ data curation services.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (No. #LG-72-17-0139-17). The authors would also like to thank Annise Blanchard, Samuel Russell, Mandeep Dhillon and Shen Zhang for their assistance with the project.
Citation
Yoon, A. and Donaldson, D.R. (2019), "Library capacity for data curation services: a US national survey", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 37 No. 4, pp. 811-828. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-12-2018-0209
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited