KU Libraries activities to highlight Love Data Week
LAWRENCE — KU Libraries will host data-related events, activities and learning opportunities during Love Data Week, an international celebration of research data and data management to take place Feb. 9-13.
Seeking to build university connections and broad participation, four activities — Data Cafe at the Kettle, Meet the Librarians and two Fridays on Fourth events — aim to raise awareness for KU Libraries’ data librarians and services, invite future university collaboration and bring the global campaign to KU.
KU Libraries supports the campus research community — including students, faculty and staff — by providing guidance and services for managing research data, including data management education and referrals to related university services, data management plan guidance and templates, and data deposit guidance for KU ScholarWorks and other repositories.
“Love Data Week began 10 years ago as a celebration of data and research data management," said Jamene Brooks-Kieffer, data services librarian and coordinator of digital scholarship. “The theme was quickly adopted by U.S. and international institutions as an opportunity to recognize the strategies, successes and failures inherent in working with all forms of data.
“KU Libraries’ staff and faculty have collaboratively planned a fun and engaging set of events for 2026. I’m excited to introduce KU to Love Data Week and look forward to sharing KU Libraries’ data-related expertise with the campus community.”
For Love Data Week’s KU Libraries debut, which was sparked partly by the recent addition of Research Data Librarian E Durham, a data theme was integrated into existing libraries programming in The Kettle — a reimagined student engagement space on the third floor of Watson Library — and Fridays on Fourth, which are research, write-ins and workshops every Friday in Watson Library’s Graduate Student Study Lounge (410) and throughout the fourth floor as part of a collaborative project among KU's libraries, Writing Center, Office of Graduate Studies and Center for Teaching Excellence.
“Love Data Week was an early influence on my trajectory into data librarianship, so I hold the event in high regard," said Durham, who joined KU Libraries in June. “I look forward to connecting with the campus community, sharing information and resources available through KU Libraries and beyond, and spreading the word about this international effort to promote awareness of best practices and spark conversations around data.
“I'm grateful to my colleagues in KU Libraries for their collaboration and support in putting on a week of data-related events, and I look forward to seeing what possibilities there are for growing this event in future years.”
Public, online events are being hosted all around the world during the week with a full listing of workshops and presentations to attend on the official site for International Love Data Week. The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICSPR) Data Fair is also taking place during Love Data Week this year. More information about KU’s events is listed below or can be accessed at the KU Love Data Week webpage.
Data Café (Love Data Week Kickoff)
4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 9, Watson Library, The Kettle (325)
Data, conversation and cookies: KU Libraries will host a community dialogue on data loss, rescue and beyond through a recent story published by TIME magazine, “The Women Saving America’s Climate Data.” Participants can listen, reflect and share in a relaxed setting, welcome to all. No prior reading is required. Printouts of the story will be available.
Meet the Librarians: Data Librarians
1-3 p.m. Feb. 12, Watson Library, The Kettle (325)
Drop in to meet KU data librarians. Participants can enjoy snacks, games, button‑making and 3D‑printed fun while learning about data skills and resources that can support academic success.
Fridays on Fourth
Fridays on Fourth Workshop: Top Gifts to Give Your Future Self: Data Management Essentials
Noon-1 p.m. Feb. 13, 455 Watson Library
Avoid the heartbreak of common research mishaps: Learn about the essential data management practices that scholars and students can start using today to help keep research organized, secure and stress-free for the long haul.
Fridays on Fourth Student Hours with the Data Librarians
1:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 13, Watson Library, Graduate Lounge
Students can celebrate Love Data Week during Fridays on Fourth Student Hours. Participants can grab a slice of pizza, destress with crafts and connect with KU Libraries’ data librarians, who will be available to share tips and tools, answer questions or hold 1-to-1 consultations.