Data services librarian trains researchers in data management

Jamene Brooks-Kieffer | Data Services Librarian & Coordinator of Digital Scholarship | KU Libraries

When people think of research, they often think of the experiments, observations and archival visits that investigators perform to collect data. But how that data is organized once collected is also pivotal to researchers being able to analyze and publish it. That’s where Jamene Brooks-Kieffer comes in.

Brooks-Kieffer is KU’s data services librarian and coordinator of digital scholarship. She has been in the role for just over a decade and has shaped it over time.

“Jamene was hired into a newly created position as KU Libraries’ first data services librarian. She has defined, evolved and grown that role by being adept at identifying needs, building partnerships, and assessing outcomes with an eye toward improvements,” said Scott Hanrath, associate dean of research engagement at KU Libraries.

In her role, Brooks-Kieffer has created a variety of online resources to help faculty, staff and students better manage their files. One of these tools is a series of webpages with guidance on naming conventions, reliable data storage and fulfilling data management plans sometimes required in federally funded research. Brooks-Kieffer also customized an online DMPTool to include KU single sign-on and guidance on data management requirements that are specific to agencies that commonly fund KU research. Investigators can request a consultation with her if they have further questions.

“Jamene genuinely wants to help researchers solve problems,” Hanrath said. “She’s an empathetic listener and skilled at unpacking new and hard-to-describe problems into actionable next steps.”

In addition to managing digital resources, Brooks-Kieffer leads KU’s institutional membership in The Carpentries, a nonprofit organization that helps researchers learn coding and other software engineering through instructional workshops. Brooks-Kieffer is certified to teach researchers these skills and develop new lessons for emerging skills. Since 2018 she has created a community of instructors and offered more than 30 workshops for 500 learners. She has streamlined these learning opportunities over time by working with colleagues to create online infrastructure that allows workshop participants to use specialized software during the workshop without needing to install software on their own devices. This means participants can spend the entire workshop learning the tools rather than waiting for everyone to complete the installation.

“Jamene is forward-thinking and curious, keeping colleagues informed about new developments,” Hanrath said. “She’s an excellent translator and connecter, helping bring individuals into teams to solve problems.”