PurposeOne of the most critical changes to academic library services in the last decade has been the development and implementation of research data services (RDS). This paper seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of conceptual models for the RDS space.Design/methodology/approachAn extensive and comprehensive review of the literature on conceptual models for RDS is performed.FindingsVarious conceptual models for RDS provide a compelling tool for guiding and evaluating RDS development and implementation within academic libraries.Originality/valueAn insightful review and synthesis of context and issues in RDS models will help academic libraries to plan, develop and advance their RDS.