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Digital Commons Data @ USF

Quick Start Guide

Quick Start

  • Log into your account via the DCD main page and select Sign In in the top corner.
    • Select "Sign in via your institution" and type in University of South Florida Libraries. You can then log in using your USF NetID
  • Once logged in, select "Create new project", then create a title name and description and click "Create project"
  • Then, upload dataset. On your project's homepage, select "create a dataset", create a dataset title. Once you have created the dataset, you can create a description, upload files, decide on your license, add any other affiliated institutions, create tags, add funders, and steps for reproducibility.
  • Upload documentation files (e.g., codebooks, guides, etc.) to the applicable dataset.
  • After confirming the datasets follow all guidelines, select publish to submit your dataset for review.
    • Once published, your dataset will be added to the queue. After approval, published datasets cannot be altered or deleted. 

What Happens next?

Once you have submitted your data for select "Publish", your data will be added to the data moderation queue. The data management team will review your data within 5-10 business days to ensure it aligns with applicable guidelines and increase potential reuse and impact. 


License Types

It's important to note that in the United States, raw data are not copyrightable, but data can be licensed. The DCD default is a CC0 1.0 license. License options include:
  • CC0 1.0
    • You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
  • CC BY 4.0
    • You must provide Attribution. You can share, copy and modify this dataset so long as you give appropriate credit, provide a link to the CC BY license, and indicate if changes were made, but you may not do so in a way that suggests the rights holder has endorsed you or your use of the dataset. Note that further permission may be required for any content within the dataset that is identified as belonging to a third party.
  • CC BY-NC 3.0
    • You must provide Attribution and usage must be Non-Commercial. You are free to adapt, copy or redistribute the material, providing you attribute appropriately and do not use the material for commercial purposes.

For more information on copyright and licensing, feel free to contact:

Tampa & Sarasota-Manatee Campus
LeEtta Schmidt
Email: lmschmidt@usf.edu
Phone: 813-974-1627
St. Petersburg Campus                              
Allison Symulevich
Email: asymulev@usf.edu
Phone: 727-873-4081