Abstract

The emergence in the scientific community of an initiative known as data sharing, consisting of sharing research data among researchers and aiming to maximize efforts and resources, is analysed. First, the concept of research data and the related technical difficulties depending on the discipline are reviewed. We also examine the motivations, origins and growth of this movement, which has had an important impact on the scientific community’s behaviour through the creation of repositories and data banks, raising both technical and social challenges. Then we discuss leading funding agencies’ initiatives and scientific journals’ editorial policies promoting these practices. Finally, we examine the impact these major changes in researchers’ habits have for librarians, including the emergence of new professional profiles.

Abstract

The open educational resources (OER) repositories facilitate access to knowledge, creating opportunities for academic institutions to share pedagogical materials that can enhance the teaching and learning experience in higher education. They can be reused, translated or modified, and even disseminated through social networks, making these multimedia materials accessible anywhere at any time, without economic and copyright barriers, thereby  encouraging active participation in the democratic education movement.

Abstract

The concept of open data, which demands that many more conditions be met than simple internet accessability in any format, is analyzed. Some examples are given about the importance of open data repositories in efforts to promote transparency in science and avoid scientific fraud. Some of the main problems in the management of data repositories are discussed.