This document summarizes the data curation services model of Johns Hopkins University. It discusses how JHU's data management services evolved from digitizing collections in the 1990s to establishing the Digital Research and Curation Center and Data Conservancy project. The services currently focus on data management planning for NSF proposals and archiving research data in JHU's data archive. The launch and sustainability of these services is discussed, along with plans for future expansion.

1. Data curation services models:
Johns Hopkins University
Barbara E. Pralle
RDAP March 23, 2012

2. Exploring the data curation waters
JHU DMS (Ripple across domains)
DRDC/Data Conservancy
(Deep Dives)

3. Data curation as continuum
• Widely ranging and emerging domains
• Existence of data standards inconsistent
Individual
Researcher • Researcher’s required to prepare dmp
• Researchers seek to use each others’ data
Emerging
research
• Researchers recognize value in aggregated data
clusters
• Consistent standards for data deposited
• 3rd party management of repository or archive
Established
communities • Development of discovery tools
Note: Inspired by Palmer, C. (2011, July 7). Data Curation and Research Libraries.
Address at the Data Curation Symposium, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

4. How did we get here?
• 1995 – Digitization of Levy and Roman de la Rose collections.
• 1997 – Creation of DKC (later the Digital Research and Curation
Center.)
• 1999 – Established the Entrepreneurial Library Program.
• 2005 – Deep curation needs explored with SDSSII. Review of
repository infrastructure and platforms.
• 2008 - Data archiving partnerships.
• 2009 – Data Conservancy NSF award and work begins on use cases
• 2010 – DC Sustainability Team - DMP pilots
• 2011 – Launch of the JHU Data Management Services

5. How did we get here?
continued
DRCC ELP
Roman de la Rose, Fee based
Levy collection
JHU DMS contractual
SDSSII, Walters service models
Data Conservancy Rapid service
expertise/systems launch

6. JHU Data Management Services scope
Data Management Planning while preparing an NSF proposal:
• Understand all data products
• Review operational data management
• Questionnaire
• Discuss archival data management needs and options
• Review domain repository options
• Provide JHU Data Archive information
• Clarify language and help researcher iterate a 2 page plan

7. JHU Data Management Services Scope
continued
Archiving of research data:
• In-depth data management plan preparation
• Recommend metadata standards
• Transfer data into JHU Data Archive
• Manage data for researcher so he/she can find, access, and
use.
• Archive conducts integrity checking and format migration in
the future.
• Archive will enable tools such as feature extraction.

8. JHU Data Management Services Scope
continued
JHU Data Management Services does not provide:
• Unlimited archiving of data over time
• Operational data management
• In-depth curation of the data
• Written data management plans for researchers to edit
• Boilerplate language for data management plans
• Not currently, data management solutions for
encumbered data (IRB, security, etc.)

9. DMS launch: 3 facets of sustainability
Financial Sustainability Human Sustainability Technical Sustainability
NSF Proposal/Award data Analysis of data types across Business school capstones
research domains analyzing storage, disaster
recovery, and TCO
Human and hardware costs and Pilots with researchers Analysis of data volume and types
analysis
Budget Projections to deans Questionnaire and process iteration Review of technical lessons from
past archiving partnerships
Service center model established July 2011 launch of consultative Hire Software developer to
to support post award services services contribute to DC IRD team
Assessment meetings every 2 Recruit and hire 2 consultants October 21011 DC instance
months established for JHU Data Archive
Ongoing marketing of services to Training and building knowledge Participate in DC community agile
promote use development process
Annual recalibration of direct Build technical team Pursue RFI for storage solutions to
funding model support service

10. Phased launch and future expansion
• Jan – June 2011 – piloted DMP support across university
• July 2011 – formal launch of NSF proposal DMP support for
4 schools funding service
• October 2011 – established JHU Data Archive (DCS
instance)
• Future: a) expand beyond NSF, b) expand to other schools
across university, c) possibly provide additional operational
data management planning, d) expansion of data archiving
services for growing individual or domain collections, e)
possible provision of services to other institutions who
strategically choose not to set up their own operation

11. Questions?
Thank you!
©2012 The Sheridan Libraries of The Johns Hopkins University