LibGuides: Library Guide for Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) Staff: Data Management

Getting Started

Introduction to Data Management for Undergraduate Students
This guide covers the basics and best practices for data management for individuals who are new to the research and data-collecting process. Although intended for undergrads, this is also a useful guide for more experienced researchers.

Documenting Your Data

Guide to writing "readme" style metadata A readme file provides information about a data file and is intended to help ensure that the data can be correctly interpreted, by yourself at a later date or by others when sharing or publishing data. Standards-based metadata is generally preferable, but where no appropriate standard exists, for internal use, writing “readme” style metadata is an appropriate strategy. Includes a link to a downloadable template.
Preparing tabular data for description and archiving These are general guidelines for preparing tabular data to include in a repository or share with other researchers. Individual repositories may have different or more specific guidelines than those presented here.

Examples of ReadMe Documentation Files from ORNL

Open Science Framework
Cloud-based management for your projects. Manage projects; share files; archive data; control access and collaboration; track workflow. Free and open source.
U of I GitHub
GitHub allows users to collaborate on or adopt open source code projects, fork code, share ideas and more. All departments and employees within the U of I System now have access to a shared, enterprise wide, GitHub license.

Prairie Research Institute Data Stewardship Plan
Final report and recommendations of the PRI Data Stewardship Advisory Committee.
For a quick summary, see the PRI Data Stewardship Plan "cliff notes"
datahelp@prairie.illinois.edu
PRI Metadata Tool
DMPTool
DMPTool is an online wizard for creating at data management plan. Templates are available for most funders, and it is best to use the funder's template when writing a DMP for a funding proposals. Researchers are also encouraged to take advantage of the Research Data Service’s DMP review service prior to proposal submission. For PRI staff who wish to create a DMP for their data outside of the grant proposal process, there is a generic PRI DMP template. Click "more" for instructions for accessing the funder and PRI templates in the DMPTool.
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1) Click sign in, and choose UIUC as your institution
2)Log in with your netID and password
3)Click "Create Plan"
4)Choose your funder from the funder menu.
5)If there is no funder, you can check the "no funder associated with this project" box to access the generic PRI DMP template
Slides from training events
Recommendations of the Data Stewardship Advisory Committee, April 2017
Smart and Simple Data Management for Prairie Research Institute Staff, November 2017

Research Data Service
The Research Data Service offers tools and expertise to support research data management, curation, and publication. Services include workshops and consultations, and our local data repository, the Illinois Data Bank.
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Established in 2014 and headquartered in the University Library, the Research Data Service is a partnership between the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Provost, the Library, GSLIS, CITES, and NCSA.

Data Management Workshops Workshops on Data Management and related topics are offered in the library or on request in your department or lab group.
Data Nudge Monthly data management tips and reminders from the Research Data Service.

Data Management Plans (DMPs) Help for creating data management plans from the Research Data Service.
DMPTool Create data management plans that meet institutional and funder requirements.

Illinois Data Bank
A public access repository for publishing research data from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Log in with your NetID to deposit data. DOIs are assigned to published datasets. Illinois Data Bank records are shared with Illinois Experts and will be connected with your Illinois Experts profile.
Dryad
The University Library is a Dryad member, which allows University of Illinois faculty, staff, and students to deposit datasets into Dryad at no charge. Login with your ORCID.

Research IT Portal Directory including tools and resources, events, and training on various research IT topics, including data, storage/backup, and research computing.
Data Backup and Storage Finder Answer a few questions to find the storage resource that's right for your research.
U of I GitHub All departments and employees within the U of I System now have access to a shared, enterprise wide, GitHub license.