David Durden [Data Services Librarian] gave an overview of the Qualitative Data Repository [QDR]: the “first repository in the United States dedicated to storing and publishing digital data generated through qualitative and multi-method research (e.g., text, images, audio, and video)”. At present there are no active users of QDR at UMD.
PACT members gave several comments, namely:
- QDR is trying to accommodate sensitive data - metadata is applied and PII [Personal Identifiable Information] is reviewed
- UMD researchers have, at present, the option of putting qualitative data into DRUM [UMD’s digital repository] but there are issues with file size for both storage and downloading to users
- There are relatively high costs for storing data in QDR: data undergo quality control, has metadata applied and PII reviewed. In contrast, OSF [Open Science Framework] offers a workspace for project management - no review or curation of files.
PACT members prepared for the first departmental and campus group meetings designed to obtain feedback on the policy. Dan Mack [Associate Dean of Collections] and colleagues will prepare a customized single sheet for each school/discipline listing primary journals, professional organizations, etc. PACT members were encouraged to contact Dan with discipline-specific details. A pre-meeting questionnaire was reviewed; this is intended to gather information on existing scholarly publishing practices - note: data gathered will only be used to facilitate meeting preparation and will not be reported out, except in aggregate form in internal-UMD reports.
Following a brief discussion on adding data storage to the cross-campus departmental meetings, the group decided to host a series of forums to distinguish between OA and data storage.