IQSS & Collaborators Launch Data Management Planning Tool

April 25, 2016
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As a result of collaborations with the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, Harvard University Information Technology, and IQSS, Harvard Library has launched a customized version of DMPTool, an online data management planning tool, for Harvard University. Data management plans—documents that outline what researchers will do with data during and after a project—are becoming increasingly required by funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. The online tool provides step-by-step guidance for creating data management plans that include templates and examples; it also helps researchers create and share their plans, assisting them in how to address requirements specific to Harvard. The tool provides an email link to local support from a variety of University offices, links to resources on topics such as security, the data lifecycle, and handling sensitive information, as well as best practices for curation and archiving.

DMP Tool

The DMPTool customizations for the Harvard research community began in Fall 2015 with the Harvard Library Stewardship Standing Committee's decision to put together a DMPTool Working Group, which included: Abigail Bordeaux, Alex Caracuzzo, Sarah Demb, Kristen Bolt, and Eleni Castro, Research Coordinator from IQSS.

In addition to DMPTool, the Library has also launched a LibGuide with more information on data management plans. Members of the IQSS community are welcome to contact Eleni Castro with any questions about the tool or data management plans in general.