UVA Library Launches “Libra Data”—University of Virginia Dataverse Repository

The Library is pleased to announce the new “Libra Data” service, powered by Dataverse. Libra Data is a place for UVA researchers to share data publicly, and is part of the Libra Scholarly Repository suite of services which includes works of UVA scholarship such as articles, books, theses, and data. Libra Data will make it much easier for users to deposit datasets into the repository.

Benefits of using Libra Data include:

  • Increased visibility and impact of your research data. 
    Sharing your data publicly can increase your research impact and visibility, creating additional opportunities for collaboration and connection within and beyond your existing network. To assist in the sharing process, a persistent identifier (DOI) is created for each Libra Data dataset.
  • Safe management of your data.
    Depositing your research data in Libra Data not only makes your data discoverable and accessible to a wider audience, but also keeps your data safer. The UVA Library, and UVA’s Information Technology Services, are committed to the durability and sustainability of scholarship deposited in Libra. Libra uses standard data management practices, including security and backup procedures, to provide a reasonable assurance that files will remain retrievable over time. Libra Data will be preserved in the Academic Preservation Trust, of which UVA Library is a founding member and partner.
  • Fulfillment of journal and grant mandates.
    More journals and public and private funding agenciesare requiring that researchers deposit data created as part of the research process. Publishing your data within Libra Data meets the requirements of these mandates.
  • Valuable research time saved.
    Using Libra Data’s easy-to-use interface to deposit, describe, and share your data saves you time and allows you to focus on your research.

We’re using the Dataverse software developed by Harvard, but it’s important to note some differences between Libra Data and Harvard’s repository. First, Libra Data is UVA’s local instance of Dataverse. All data resides on servers physically located on the UVA Grounds, which is an important requirement for many agencies. Also, Libra Data is for final, publishable products of research. Libra Data is a place for UVA researchers to publish final research data for sharing publicly. You can also deposit data into Libra Data even if it’s already been made publicly available through another repository. However, if you are looking for an environment for data works in progress, consider the Open Science Framework, which allows collaboration and then enables publishing of research products at the appropriate point in the research lifecycle, including to instances of Dataverse like Libra Data.

To learn more about Libra Data, visit the Libra Data User Guides and our FAQ on Libra Data deposits. In addition, Sherry Lake (Scholarly Repository Librarian) and Ellen Ramsey (Director of Scholarly Repository Services) will provide a brief overview and demonstration in two open sessions:

Tuesday, April 19 2–3 p.m.
Brown Science and Engineering Library room 133
Registration not required

Tuesday, April 26, 2–3 p.m. 
Health Sciences Library Carter Classroom
Please visit https://www.hsl.virginia.edu/classes to register

Questions? Contact Sherry Lake or Ellen Ramsey.

 

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