“A Few Words on Data”: Promoting Research Data Management Through Existing Campus Communication Channels

Background: A research data working group of librarians and other information professionals developed a goal to promote research data management, reproducibility in research, and related library resources and services to researchers across disciplines on a university campus. Five members of the research data working group formed a communications subteam and determined the type, format, and frequency of messages that would be sent and identified specific campus communication channels that reached the target audience. Upon considering potential options for communicating with audiences on campus, the working group adopted a plan to partner with various campus content creators.

Description: The working group's communications subteam members asked gatekeepers of campus communication channels for permission to send messages that could be remixed and redistributed to their respective electronic mailing lists and social media platforms. A workflow was developed in which two short blurbs are written and distributed directly to campus content creators for several communication channels every month. The subteam plans to evaluate how many members of the campus community are reached monthly through this new communication initiative, the ways in which messages have been remixed for specific audiences, and what value content creators find in this initiative. They will also assess how their communication plan aids the working group in meeting various short and long-term goals as outlined in a logic model.

Conclusion: According to responses to a short survey of campus content creators, in which two-thirds responded, the messages distributed by the research data working group and subsequently by campus content creators have the potential to reach more than 25,000 people. It should be noted that not all messages provided by the working group are shared by every content creator every month; each selects which messages will be appropriate for the audience. Additionally, some members of the campus community may see messages multiple times if following or subscribing to multiple communication channels. Feedback from content creators regarding the value that the messages have for the campus community was very positive and enthusiastic. This initiative to promote research data management and related information assists the working group with meeting its goal to develop strategies for outreach and promotion of RDM and campus research data repository services. The working group concludes that the initiative has been successful thus far, though the team would like to identify ways to increase reach and engagement.