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U of G Research Data Repositories

Contributors: Carrie Breton, Lucia Costanzo, and Kaitlyn DeWeerd

What are the U of G Research Data Repositories?

The University of Guelph Research Data Repositories is an institutional repository for research datasets created by University of Guelph (U of G) researchers, ensuring long-term stewardship and access to these datasets.

The Data Repositories are hosted in Borealis, a Canadian Dataverse Repository which uses the Dataverse repository platform software. Borealis is a secure, multidisciplinary Canadian research data repository made up of a network of library and research institution collections.

How are the Data Repositories structured?

The Data Repositories are composed of two main collections:

Each main collection is organized into college-level collections, and these are subdivided into department or school-level collections. Depositors choose the main collection that best matches their dataset and Data Repositories staff will grant them dataset creator access to their home department or school collection within that main collection.

U of G-affiliated centres, institutes, or research programs that expect to deposit multiple datasets (more than five total datasets) may request a dedicated sub-collection within the Data Repositories.

The library retains administrative control over all collections within the Data Repositories and all datasets submitted to any collection will be reviewed by Data Repositories staff prior to public release. During the review process, also referred to as the dataset curation, Data Repositories staff (curators) are responsible for reviewing and enhancing submitted datasets in support of long-term access and reuse. Refer to “Curating submitted datasets” for more information about dataset curation.

Who can deposit in the Data Repositories?

The Data Repositories accepts submissions of research datasets created at or in collaboration with the U of G. The Data Repositories are freely available to all U of G researchers including faculty, staff, students (graduate and undergraduate), and research collaborators to deposit and share their research datasets.

Anyone with a U of G central login account can create a Data Repositories account and deposit datasets; you can securely log in using your U of G username and password.

For information on creating your Data Repositories account and setting up your dataset creator access, please see “How do I deposit my research data?”.

Can I deposit datasets on behalf of someone else?

To deposit a dataset in the Data Repositories you must be either the creator of the dataset, a researcher collaborating with the creator(s), or an individual authorized by the creator to deposit on their behalf.

If you are depositing a dataset on behalf of your co-authors, you must first obtain permission from the other authors before submitting the dataset.

How do I deposit my research datasets?

Please refer to Preparing datasets for deposit for additional resources to help you prepare and deposit your datasets, including the Dataset Deposit Guidelines, Readme Template, and Dataset Submission Guide.

The library offers a self-deposit with curation service. The deposit workflow is as follows:

  1. Create your repository account.
    1. If you are a first-time depositor, complete the U of G Research Data Repositories Dataset Deposit Intake Form.
    2. Activate your Data Repositories account by logging in with your U of G central login account.
    3. Once your account is created, contact us to set up your dataset creator access.
      Note: If you already have a Data Repositories account and dataset creator access, you can log in and begin a new deposit right away.
  2. Prepare your dataset.
    1. Assemble your dataset following the Dataset Deposit Guidelines.
    2. Use the Readme template to capture supplemental documentation.
  3. Create a draft dataset record.
    1. Log in to the Data Repositories and create a draft dataset record following the instructions in the Data Submission Guide.
  4. Submit your draft dataset for review.
  5. Dataset review.
    1. Data Repositories staff will review (also referred to as curate) your dataset for alignment with the Data Deposit Guidelines using a standard curation workflow.
    2. The curator will collaborate with you to enhance the dataset.
  6. Public release.
    1. Once ready, the dataset curator will make the dataset publicly available in the repository, with appropriate file access controls.

Are there any policies or guidelines I should be aware of prior to depositing in the Data Repositories?

The Data Repositories are governed by the library’s Digital Repositories Policy which outlines the roles and responsibilities of the U of G library as the service provider and you, as a user and depositor. Additionally, as a participating member of Borealis, the Data Repositories service adheres with Borealis’ Terms of Use.

Please see University of Guelph Research Data Repositories data curation guides, templates, and workflows for administrative documentation including:

  • Dataverse admin guide
  • Collection guidelines
  • Deaccession guidelines
  • Curation Workflow and Curation Report Template

Contact and support

The Data Repositories are available for depositing, browsing, and accessing content 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. User support is available during normal business hours.

For inquires, including technical support, please make a Publishing and Author Support Request.

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