Open data and scientific research: the organizational and regulatory framework of e-science

Abstract

The dissemination of research data opened an entirely new framework for scientific communities as well as for academic and research libraries. Besides, it generated new issues and questions. Starting with some definitions of “open data”, the author outlines the benefits of open access to research data and analyze its regulatory framework: where, when, under which conditions and with what kind of license can research data be made available online? The last part of the article illustrates how research data organization – indexing, management, preservation and access – can become a new professional paradigm for academic and research librarians.