Library Data: Empowering Practice and Persuasion

(Paperback)

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Description

Numerical evidence is everywhere and how best to handle and leverage it is a growing concern in the academic world in general and the academic library world in particular. Libraries are not only storehouses and key contacts for library patrons in accessing numbers, but are also collectors and users of their own data, which is integral to the functioning of the library itself. The essays in Library Data: Empowering Practice and Persuasion focus on interpreting and using library-generated and outside data in support of data-driven practice and data-strengthened persuasion. The collection includes such topics as how to make data presentations appealing and effective; applying capital-budgeting models to libraries; and using data for evaluation and improvement of collections and services. Articles also cover specialized scenarios, including reference, collection development, serial acquisitions, institutional repositories, web site design, interlibrary loan, and bibliographic instruction.

Reviews

The 18 essays in the book, written mainly by practicing librarians from university libraries, discuss a variety of ways to use statistics in the library, from applying capital budgeting models and libraries and collection evaluation to creating data presentations that will be effective and persuasive. * ARBAonline *
Well organized and invaluable data. Library Data is a must have reference to anyone whose job involves persuasion. * Midwest Book Review *
This collection of essays on interpreting and using library-generated data and outside data gives information on using data to inform and persuade, evaluation of monographic collections, serials and e-resources management, using data to improve teaching and learning, and emerging contexts such as data for repositories, and the influence of library homepage vocabulary on database usage. The book offers a review of literature on usage statistics in e-journal decision making, a case study of maximizing the value of reference data, and advice on investing in electronic resources using capital budgeting. * SciTech Book News *

Author Bio

Darby Orcutt is senior collection manager for humanities and social sciences at the North Carolina State University Libraries and formerly served as NCSU's first Collection Manager for Data Analysis. He also teaches as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Practice at the School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.