Leveraging undergraduate federal work study student skill sets to support an R2 university libraries’ research data services

Abstract

This article discusses creative approaches to establishing a research data services (RDS) at an R2 (high research activity) institution with a limited budget. Seton Hall University Libraries conducted a study of faculty data practices to inform services. The findings indicated that there was a need to support student, faculty, and administrative offices with data related questions such as obtaining data and performing data analysis. To support the findings, undergraduate Federal Work Students (FWS) were hired to build the RDS program in the Seton Hall University Libraries. This model makes it possible for medium sized institutions with limited resources to offer RDS.

Keywords:

• Federal Work Study
• innovation
• research data services
• undergraduates
• university libraries