You're in Good Company: Unifying Campus Research Data Services

EDITOR'S SUMMARY With a focus that extends beyond library walls, promoting research data services must be a point of cooperation across an institution's units and departments. An RDAP 2015 panel explored the value of advisory committees or communities of practice established at three universities to build strong research data services. Though the several committees at the institutions have different primary focus areas, each functions as a community of practice with a unique set of shared interests and goals, mutual relationships and group identification. Each is challenged by its decentralized nature across the institution and must continually communicate its activities, services and resources. These communities of practice are working toward long-term goals through a common vision and strategic planning, sharing experiences and opportunities to promote their research data services.