How can an academic library contribute to make data submitted together with PhD dissertations useful for further research? Our paper provides some recommendations for information professionals, based on a review of studies and projects and on empirical evidence from a content analysis of data sources and types from 300 print and digital dissertations in social sciences and humanities (1987-2013) and a survey on data management conducted with the scientists and PhD students of the University of Lille 3 in April and May 2015. Acknowledgment: With funding from MESHS, Lille (France).