Visualizing Library Impact
Description: We created accessible
dashboards of the core functions of our library, including physical
collections, spaces, user services, electronic resources, events, and
engagement. Our dashboards provide insight into how the library is being
used and by whom. They also demonstrate our value to and impact on the
university. We sought feedback from library leadership on the dashboards
to ensure that the data supports their goals and priorities, and is
useful to their teams and their decision making. To ensure that our
dashboards are accessible to all users in our campus community, we
applied best practices in accessibility. We used a color contrast
checker to see which university brand colors have adequate contrast and
can be used together on graphs. We also ensured that interactive
elements, such as buttons and filters, are consistently styled across
the dashboards. By adhering to website design conventions, we made the
functionality of these interactive elements clear and intuitive for
viewers. Overall, our dashboards promote a culture of data-driven
decision making, so that library leadership can use them to make choices
that better serve users. In addition to the internal dashboards, we
plan to develop public-facing dashboards to demonstrate our value to
users, and to foster a culture of transparency and continuous
improvement.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this webinar, attendees will learn:
- The value in putting their organizational data in one place and making it accessible to internal and external stakeholders;
- How to make their dashboards accessible; and
- How to complete a similar project at their own libraries, by learning about our process.
Who Should Attend: Library leadership and librarians who create data visualizations.
Presenters:
Josie Cotton has been the User Experience
Librarian at Case Western Reserve University since 2023. Her primary
duties are conducting user research, developing organization-wide data
dashboards, and leading the library’s Website Committee. Through user
research, such as usability testing and focus groups, she aims to better
understand and meet the needs of library users. This research, along
with her organizational dashboards, promote a culture of data-driven
decision making in the library.
For the past ten years, Liz Bober has
served as the Assessment Librarian at Case Western Reserve University.
In her role, Liz's responsibilities are diverse, but her primary focus
is on assessing library activities, supporting the strategic plan for
Kelvin Smith Library, and ensuring that the library's value and impact
are effectively communicated to stakeholders. As the lead for all
aspects of the assessment process and user experience programs, Liz
plays a crucial role in enhancing the library's services and outreach.
Tech Requirements