The University of Iowa Libraries has created the Research Commons, a new department that brings together the expertise of the Digital Scholarship & Publishing Studio (DSPS) and Scholarly Impact to streamline access to research support services.
Located on the first floor of the Main Library in Room 1015, the Research Commons serves as a hub for faculty, staff, and students seeking guidance throughout the research lifecycle in areas such as:
- Digital project design, technical development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Scholarly publishing, open access, copyright guidance, and dissemination platforms.
- Research visibility, impact, and scholarly communication.
- Instruction, training, and experiential learning opportunities that build research skills.
“The Research Commons reflects our commitment to providing coordinated, researcher-centered support,” says Jade E. Davis, associate university librarian for Teaching, Learning, and Research. “By connecting our expertise through one department, the UI Libraries is making it easier for the campus community to discover services, build partnerships, and maximize outcomes at every stage of their research.”
Led by Director Donna Brooks, the Research Commons will continue hosting and maintaining existing DSPS and Scholarly Impact projects, publications, and partnerships while expanding programs and services. Researchers will also continue working with their current project teams.
Additional information about services, project intake, and engagement opportunities will be shared this fall. Proposals for new Research Commons projects will open in January 2027.
Questions may be directed to lib-researchcommons@uiowa.edu.