Abstract
Introduction: Research data management (RDM) is being recognized as an increasingly important role for librarians. In this paper, the role of health science librarians in supporting research data management endeavors is examined.
 Methods: All job postings currently (as of April 5th, 2018) available on the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information (iSchool) job site were analyzed to identify positions related to health science librarianship. The job responsibilities and descriptions were then examined to identify instances where research data management was mentioned.
 Results: Thirty-two postings from the search results were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. Of these thirty-two health science librarian postings which were included in the analysis, eight included supporting research data management services, in some capacity, as part of the position description.
 Discussion/ Conclusion: Through the job posting analysis, a picture emerges where RDM is not consistently seen as a role for health science librarians. However, the literature indicates that in many instances, research data management is already being done by health science librarians, and is a trend which is likely to continue in the future. As such, it is important that research data management services start being acknowledged and reflected in education and job description opportunities.
Highlights
Research data management (RDM) is being recognized as an increasingly important role for librarians, but little work has been done to investigate whether RDM tasks are being asked of librarians in their professional roles
Libraries have begun to recognize the importance of supporting research data management (RDM), and the emerging and significant role that it plays for librarians [1]
There has been similar progress in Canada, with major grant governing bodies such as the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) releasing the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy in 2015, which calls for improved transparency and accessibility of data of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CHIR) funded research projects [8]
Summary
Research data management (RDM) is being recognized as an increasingly important role for librarians, but little work has been done to investigate whether RDM tasks are being asked of librarians in their professional roles. Results: Thirty-two job descriptions were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria Of these thirty-two health science librarian postings, eight included supporting research data management services, in some capacity, as part of the position description. It is important that research data management roles start being acknowledged and reflected in education and job description opportunities. Libraries have begun to recognize the importance of supporting research data management (RDM), and the emerging and significant role that it plays for librarians [1]. One of the clear trends which stands out when examining recent investigations into the field is that research data management responsibilities and roles are being seen as an increasingly important place for health science librarians. Holst et al further identified that hospital librarians are “leaders in knowledge management” and that support of hospital research, including data management, is a clearly significant part of the role that health librarians play [9]
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