RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: GLOBAL BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS (2015–2025)

Abstract

Purpose: The importance of Research Data Management (RDM) for academic libraries is a strategic function, as it can act as the supporting element to organize preserve share and reuse research data across research lifecycle. In response to the increasing priorities of open science, digital research infrastructures and data-intensive science, the research on this topic enhances rapidly. This study explores the worldwide research contribution on RDM in academic libraries looking at it from bibliometric analysis of the related literature.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A bibliometric approach was adopted and the Lens database was used as data source.

The publications issued from 2015 to 2025 were selected through applying a formal search strategy. The search was applied on 2 August 2026 and the search results comprised 821 articles obtained based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The data extracted from the search results have been analyzed using descriptive bibliometric measures like publication trends over the years, most relevant journal, most productive authors, most productive institutions and countries, highly cited publications, and frequently-used words as keywords, etc.

Results: The study revealed that there is an increase in the number of research data management in academic libraries throughout the study period. Moreover, the year 2021 recorded the highest number of publications, which means research data management and services in academic libraries attract a significant amount of attention worldwide. The study highlights the dominant publication outlets, prolific authors, organizations and countries contributing to the domain.

Identification of research frontiers and trending themes based on keywords analysis reveals that main research threads include RDM, Academic Libraries, Research Data Services, Open Science and Data Management. Originality/Value: This paper provides a bibliometric analysis of international scientific research activity on Research Data Management in Academic Libraries in the period 2015-2025.

It considers the leading authors publications, institutions and research areas, as well as publication patterns over the years.The analysis provides insight into potential future research directions. Researchers, librarians, higher education institutions, and policymakers can use it to improve research data services and practices.