Open and Digital Research at the University of Galway Library

The Open and Digital Research Department at the University of Galway Library offers expert advice and support for research and open and digital research practice. We provide a comprehensive suite of services and resources tailored to every stage of the research lifecycle. Whether you are a PhD researcher, postgraduate student, postdoctoral fellow, or an experienced academic, the Library is here to help you maximise the visibility, integrity, and impact of your work.

Library as a Space to Learn, Connect, and Collaborate

Modern research libraries are no longer defined solely by their collections. Today, they play an active role in supporting the research lifecycle by providing infrastructure, expertise, and services that meet the needs of researchers. This includes guidance on data management planning, support for open publishing, advice on selecting appropriate digital tools, and assistance with understanding funder requirements. The Library aims to offer these services in a coordinated and accessible way.

In addition to supporting individual research needs, the Library also contributes to building a strong and sustainable research culture. Feedback from researchers has highlighted the need for more opportunities to connect across disciplines, share best practices, and collaborate more effectively. The new library building has been designed to meet both current and future research needs. The vision explores opportunities to enhance coordination between research support services across the University. The building will also feature spaces for collaboration, informal engagement, and the development of research skills, creating an environment where researchers can work, connect, and innovate.

Artist rendering of the new Library and Learning Commons

Shaping Library Research Services: Your Voice, Your Priorities

We are launching a short survey to hear directly from researchers about which services, tools, and supports matter most to you. The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and will help us prioritise offerings ranging from data management and open publishing to training and collaborative research spaces. Your input will directly shape the next phase of research support in the Library.

Take the Survey

Training and Workshops for Academic Year 2025–26

Our calendar of events and workshops can be found on our website. Look out for the schedule for the next academic year, commencing September 2025. You can also view recordings of previous workshops on our YouTube channel.

Sample YouTube workshop recordings

Upcoming Sessions Include:

• Digital Tools & Technologies for Research (Network Analysis, Linked Data, Data Visualisation)
• Research Data Management: Writing and Reviewing Data Management Plans
• Introduction to Open Practices throughout the Research Lifecycle
• Preprints, Pre-registration, and Registered Reports
• Fostering Good Research Practice through Integrity and Openness
• Open Peer Review in Practice
• Copyright and Open Licensing for Research Outputs
• Open Software and Hardware
• Responsible Metrics and Assessment
• Ethical Journal Editorship: “Flipping” to Open
• GS530 Graduate Research and Information Skills Module

If you have any queries, please contact: OpenandDigitalResearch@universityofgalway.ie

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A Closer Look at Our Services

The University of Galway Library is dedicated to supporting your research needs with expert guidance and access to state-of-the-art resources. Below is an overview of the core services we offer. For full details, visit our Web pages.

A research lifecycle mapped to services - for interactive version, see https://library.universityofgalway.ie/research/

Support for Open Practice

Our Open Research Librarian, Dr. Jen Smith, provides guidance on all aspects of Open Practice, including:

• Navigating open research workflows
• Pre-registration and registered reports
• Open peer review and co-production
• Citizen science and public engagement
• Responsible metrics and research integrity
• Embedding Open Practice in funding applications

A guide is available at Beyond Open Access – Open Research Practices (LibGuides).

Contact: jen.smith@universityofgalway.ie

Advanced Research Skills Training

Our Research Services Librarian, Rosie Dunne, offers training and one-to-one consultations on:

• GS530 Graduate Research and Information Skills module for PhD students
• Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, rapid reviews, and other evidence-based methodologies
• Self-directed guides (EndNote, Scopus, Web of Science, reference management)
• Customised training sessions for research groups

Contact: rosie.dunne@universityofgalway.ie

Digital Research & Innovation

Our Digital Research and Innovation team provides advanced project support for creating, analysing, and disseminating digital content. Services include:

• Content support: data extraction, OCR, HTR, and enrichment
• Project support: management, partnership facilitation, community building, and funding advice
• Innovation support: integrating open-source tools and sustainable practices

Contact: Oksana.Dereza@universityofgalway.ie

Digital Publishing Platforms

We maintain open and trusted publishing platforms for locally created research outputs, digital exhibitions, and open educational content:

• University of Galway Research Repository: Open access publications (peer-reviewed articles, working papers, conference papers, reports) by University of Galway authors.
• Open Education Resource Projects: Freely available teaching and learning materials created by University of Galway researchers. Browse the projects here.
• The Digital Collections and Digital Archives repository offers access to the University of Galway's archives and special collections, comprising written and printed historical records, early periodicals, theatre archives, maps, photography, and other primary research materials.

Contact: Oksana.Dereza@universityofgalway.ie

Data Tools & Data Services

Our Digital Library Developer, Oksana Dereza, assists researchers in evaluating and integrating data methods, tools, and technologies, including:

• Network analysis, linked data, and data visualisation
• Guides on digital tools for research (Digital Tools LibGuide)
• Responsible AI for research (AI for Research LibGuide)
• Workshops and webinars (recordings and materials available on GitHub)
• Personal consultations

Contact: Oksana.Dereza@universityofgalway.ie

Research Data Management

Effective data management is essential for high-quality research. Our services include:

• Data Management Plans (DMPs): Creation, review, and customisation
• Training: Introduction to RDM, FAIR principles, metadata, documentation, and data sharing
• One-to-one consultations (Trish Finnan, Digital Publishing & Data Management Librarian)
• Research Data Stewardship: Guidance on data quality, security, and usability (FAIR compliance)

Contact: trish.finnan@universityofgalway.ie or kathleen.harrigan@universityofgalway.ie

Learn more: Research Data Management LibGuide

Open Publishing

We focus on Green Open Access through the University of Galway Research Repository. This route involves depositing an author’s accepted manuscript in our institutional repository, making it freely available while complying with publisher policies. Benefits include increased visibility, higher citation rates, and compliance with funder mandates.

• Repository Support: Assistance with depositing research outputs and ensuring compliance
• Policy Guidance: Navigating publisher policies for self-archiving
• Funder Compliance: Meeting open access requirements of funders and institutions

Read the Library Guide on Open Access Publishing.

Publishing Services

Our publishing services include:

• Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) & ISBNs: Assistance with obtaining and registering persistent identifiers for datasets, articles, and monographs.
• Guidance on best practices for using PIDs consistently across all research outputs.
• Support for Pressbooks to produce and publish Open Educational Resources with ISBN/DOI assignment.
• Information on publishing deals, APCs, and publisher policies.

Contact: trish.finnan@universityofgalway.ie (Digital Publishing & Data Management Librarian)

Networking & Community-building

We facilitate scholarly networking and community-building through:

• Open Research Forums
• Open Scholarship Community Galway
• ReproducibiliTea journal club (Galway chapter)

If you would like to learn more or join our ReproducibiliTea Galway journal club, please get in touch.

Contact: jen.smith@universityofgalway.ie

Recent Events

CONUL 2025: Shaping Tomorrow

Oksana Dereza, Dr Cillian Joy, and Marie-Louise Rouget from the Open and Digital Research Team presented at the 2025 Consortium of National and University Libraries (CONUL) conference. The event, “Shaping Tomorrow: Reflections and New Directions,” celebrated 10 years of innovation and collaboration among Irish university libraries. See https://conference.conul.ie/. 

Oksana Dereza, Dr Cillian Joy, and Marie-Louise Rouget presenting at CONUL 2025.

Citizen Science at the Open Research Forum

In April 2025, we hosted the Open Research Forum on Citizen Science, in collaboration with Oscar Diaz (European Citizen Science Ambassador for Ireland), Dr Liz Coleman (School of Natural Sciences), Ruth Hynes (Head of Research & Innovation Strategic Development), and Éle Quinn (Medicine). Read about the event.

University of Galway Library Open Access Collections

The University of Galway Library provides access to a wide range of freely available digital content. Explore our collections:

• University of Galway Research Repository: Open access publications (peer-reviewed articles, working papers, conference papers, reports) by University of Galway authors.
• Open Education Resource Projects: Freely available teaching and learning materials created by University of Galway researchers. Browse the projects.
• The Digital Collections and Digital Archives repository offers access to the University of Galway's archives and special collections, comprising written and printed historical records, early periodicals, theatre archives, maps, photography, and other primary research materials.

Imirce

Imirce is a funded project within the Open and Digital Research Team that provides open access to thousands of Irish emigrant letters and life stories from North America. Managed by Marie-Louise Rouget (Digital Archivist & Imirce Project Manager) in collaboration with the Heritage Collections team, Imirce offers:

• Digitised materials from the Kerby A. Miller collection and public donations received since 2024.
• A testing ground for new digital processes, with periodic presentations on lessons learned at University of Galway and national forums.
• Conference presentations, including CONUL 2025 (Collection Day model) and IEEE DPWH 2025 in Morocco (October 2025).

Imirce: Irish Emigrant Letters & Life Stories digital collection.

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The mission of the Open and Digital Research Team is to provide the resources, guidance, and tools necessary to facilitate and enhance your research activities, with a strong focus on open publishing, open research practices, research integrity, digital creativity, and innovation.

Contact us at: OpenandDigitalResearch@universityofgalway.ie