Nowadays, even though we have access to a vast array of learning resources, I still value learning from the real-world experiences of my peers. I greatly appreciate that the RDAP Summit continues to bring together data professionals and librarians from around the world to share successful service models and emerging research. Its virtual format makes participation especially accessible, allowing us to attend without the barriers of travel.

I began my role as a Research Data Librarian in June 2024. About six months into the position, while I was still finding my footing, I encountered concerns around the trustworthiness of U.S. federal data – particularly instances where datasets were missing or modified on government websites. Researchers at my institution highlighted how these issues were affecting their work. In response, I created a research guide that pointed to
alternative data sources. However, I realized I had not yet provided guidance on how to assess federal data quality, use such data responsibly, or develop strategies for locating reliable alternatives. At the time, I lacked the confidence and insight to fully address these challenges.

Session 1B, “Teaching Good Data Practice When "Official" Sources Are Unstable,” directly resonated with these concerns. In their presentation, “How Should We Teach About Federal Data Now?”, Lena Bohman and Beth Jarosz shared not only teaching strategies but also introduced several valuable resources for tracking and evaluating the health of federal data and government information. Additionally, the lightning talk “Tailoring Data Acquisition Support for Business Students in an Era of 'Missing' Data” by Madison Golden and Lorelei Rutledge offered practical insights into guiding students toward alternative data sources for their research projects. I am deeply grateful to these speakers for sharing their experiences and perspectives, which provided me with concrete ideas for developing
instruction around data integrity.

I also found Sandi Caldrone’s presentation on Data Nudge particularly inspiring. In our data services team, I had previously proposed a weekly newsletter to promote data management best practices. However, given researchers’ limited time and already crowded inboxes, we decided not to move forward with that idea. The concept of Data Nudge presents an appealing alternative – concise, engaging, and designed to deliver targeted messages efficiently. I am excited to adopt this idea and decided to collaborate with my team to create our own version.

Finally, I greatly appreciated the opening keynote, which highlighted a compelling example of successful team collaboration and community engagement. This was my second time attending the RDAP Summit, and it remains one of the most impactful conferences I have experienced. I would like to sincerely thank all the organizers and contributors who made this meaningful event possible.