In practice

1. The curation process
2. Length of curation work
3. Implementation of dataset curation

The curation process 

Curation is carried out by curators designated for the collection.

• If the dataset creator has been assigned a default   contributor role, they cannot publish the dataset directly and must submit it to a collection curator for validation and publication. Curation takes place before publication, in accordance with the Curator Charter of the Recherche Data Gouv repository. 
   
• If a default curator's role has been assigned to the dataset creator, they can publish the dataset directly. Curation by a collection curator then takes place after the dataset’s initial publication. While this process remains possible, it is strongly discouraged by the policy of the Recherche Data Gouv repository. 
   

In the institutional spaces of the Recherche Data Gouv repository, the collection administrator(s) must establish the curation procedures before publication and designate the curators for the collections. 
In the generic space of the Recherche Data Gouv repository, curation is carried out before publication by a team of curators from the Plateforme resource centre. 
The curator makes minor corrections involving form, syntax or spelling and suggests improvements to the dataset to the depositor. Several exchanges with the depositor may be required before the dataset can be approved. A curation report will be sent to the depositor to indicate and follow up on the curator's modifications and suggestions. The steps of this curation process can be formalised using labels, to learn more, please contact support-recherchedatagouv@inrae.fr .

Length of curation work 

Regardless of the process used, curation is carried out as promptly as possible. When curation is performed before publication, the curator also ensures that the depositor makes any recommended changes so that the dataset can be published within one year unless it is justified to take longer. 
After this one-year period, the curator or administrator can delete the dataset. 
 

Implementation of dataset curation   

Curation before publication   
The Recherche Data Gouv repository recommends carrying out data curation before publication, in accordance with the recommendations set out in the Curator Charter . 
When a depositor submits a dataset for review, the dataset to be reviewed appears in the collection with the “Submitted for Review ” label: 
 

The curator is notified by email and through their personal space in the repository. 
 

The curator checks the data according to the selected level of curation.

They may:

• either make minor corrections where necessary, publish the dataset, and email the depositor the curation report indicating the corrections made;
• or return the dataset to the depositor through the interface and suggest improvements via the curation report sent by email. 
   

Once the dataset has been published, any further modifications made by the depositor must again be validated by the curator. 
 

Curation after publication  
In addition to the initial curation, post-publication curation may be carried out as part of an active preservation approach, for example in connection with:

• changes to the repository’s metadata schema;
• data quality initiatives;
• technical operations;
• etc.

For the sake of transparency, any modification must be communicated to the depositors of the affected datasets.