Training and Development of Library Employees in Research Data Management

Providing services to faculty and researchers throughout the data life cycle has become an important aspect for many libraries worldwide. Considering the complexity of data management, providing these services can appear daunting. Data services worldwide have matured steadily over the past five years and the United States is only catching up. Learning about the information and services available through other institutions allows libraries to develop referral services that make effective use of current personnel. A model for training and development of library employees was created at the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah that prepared librarians to provide successful referral services. The training model develops new skills and tools for current personnel, which takes into account an ever-shrinking personnel and resource budget requiring the library to do more without adding more people. This training model resulted in an effective, low cost means for providing the necessary services, resources, and outreach to campus faculty and researchers to help them with their ever-growing need for assistance with data management.