The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Data Repository (University of Nebraska-LincolnDR) is a service offered to University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers--both faculty and students--by the Libraries. It provides researchers with the opportunity to preserve, share, and discover inactive research datasets. This guide provides information for those considering depositing in University of Nebraska-LincolnDR, explains the difference between registering and depositing data, and outlines some tips to better manage datasets.
See the Data Management Guide for more information on data management in general.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln DR offers two avenues for researchers wishing to make their data more discoverable by others: depositing and registering.
When depositing a dataset in University of Nebraska-LincolnDR, you provide a copy of the data for the repository to be preserved (and likely shared--see Access Options for more information), along with descriptive information ("metadata"). If the dataset is public, it will be searchable and accessible on the University of Nebraska-LincolnDR website, as well as through the Libraries' catalog. The dataset will receive a unique identifier (DOI), which can be used to cite or refer to the dataset (for instance, in publications). Deposited datasets count toward your quota.
Registering a dataset in University of Nebraska-LincolnDR is useful if your data is already publicly accessible (for instance, on a project website or in another repository). You provide descriptive information ("metadata"), along with the current location of the dataset, but do not provide the actual data. Your dataset will be searchable in the University of Nebraska-LincolnDR and the Libraries' catalog, making it more discoverable.
Though depositing in University of Nebraska-LincolnDR has advantages for University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers, it is also important to note it may not be the best choice for your dataset. There are both discipline-specific and general-purpose data repositories that may be better suited for your dataset.
re3data is a curated registry of data repositories, where you can browse and search repositories by subject area and other criteria. re3data includes detailed information about each repository, including who is responsible for maintaining the repository (which can inform potential for longevity), whether or not data deposit and access are open or restricted and in what ways, and what types of data they accept.
In addition, Figshare is a domain-agnostic repository especially geared toward sharing and reuse of research. Figshare, as well as other repositories external to University of Nebraska-Lincoln may provide greater visibility to your dataset amongst those researchers most likely to have interest in and potentially reuse your data.
