The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is delighted to announce the new set of institutions joining the Realities of Academic Data Sharing (RADS) Initiative, a research project aimed at understanding and addressing the complexities and costs associated with managing and sharing data from funded research.

The cohort will join the current RADS institutions—Duke University, the University at Buffalo, the University of Minnesota, and Washington University in St. Louis—and bring unique expertise and perspectives to our collective endeavor.

The institutions joining the RADS cohort are:

• New York University—Research lead: Nicholas Wolf, Co-Head, Data Services and Research Data Management Librarian
• University of Arizona—Research lead: Fernando Rios, Associate Specialist, Research Data Management
• University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa—Research lead: Hejin Shin, Data Services Librarian (joining UH Mānoa September 16)
• University of Kentucky—Research lead: Isaac Wink, Research Data Librarian
• University of Nebraska–Lincoln—Research lead: Leslie Delserone, Professor/Research Data Services & Science Librarian
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas—Research lead: Amanda Koziura, Head, Scholarly Communication and Data Services
• University of South Carolina—Research lead: Stacy Winchester, Research Data Librarian

"I am thrilled that University Libraries at the University of South Carolina will be joining several other institutions in the next phase of the RADS project," noted David Banush, dean of libraries at the University of South Carolina, who is also a member of the ARL Scholars and Scholarship Committee. "Understanding the full scope of required support for open data is an essential part of making this work viable for the long term."

The RADS cohort institutions have demonstrated a high level of interest and commitment to advancing the understanding of data management and sharing costs. Participating institutions will receive complimentary institutional membership to the Data Curation Network (DCN) for the term of the research project, with the exception of New York University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, both of which are current DCN members. The DCN is a membership organization of institutional and nonprofit data repositories whose vision is to advance open research by making data more ethical, reusable, and understandable.

"The University of Arizona Libraries look forward to collaborating with our colleagues in the RADS project to advance sustainable models for openly sharing research data as a core service in research libraries," said Shan Sutton, dean of University Libraries and Katheryne B. Willock Endowed Chair at the University of Arizona, and member of the ARL Scholars and Scholarship Committee.

This research investigates how various organizational structures and infrastructure models impact expenses for public access to research data. In analyzing these various models, this research will aid institutions in building efficient and coordinated research data infrastructure to meet federal and public policies for data sharing.

"UNLV is pleased to contribute to this critical project that will assist universities in developing necessary infrastructure and cost support to advance research data management," said Maggie Farrell, dean of University Libraries at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

Initially funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2021 to 2023, the RADS Initiative is currently supported by the US Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) (LG-254930-OLS-23) until 2026.

ARL looks forward to the valuable contributions these seven institutions will make to the RADS Initiative. For more information about the initiative, please contact Cynthia Hudson Vitale (cvitale@arl.org) or Shawna Taylor (staylor@arl.org).

About the Association of Research Libraries

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of research libraries in Canada and the US whose vision is to create a trusted, equitable, and inclusive research and learning ecosystem and prepare library leaders to advance this work in strategic partnership with member libraries and other organizations worldwide. ARL's mission is to empower and advocate for research libraries and archives to shape, influence, and implement institutional, national, and international policy. ARL develops the next generation of leaders and enables strategic cooperation among partner institutions to benefit scholarship and society. ARL is on the web at ARL.org.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

IMLS logoThe Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.