This document summarizes a presentation about visualizing library data to provide value and support decision making. It describes building a prototype called "LibStats" that pulls data from various library systems like the ILS, reference tracking, workshops, and analytics to create charts and graphs. Examples shown include statistics on info desk usage, website views, search behavior, workshops registrations and more. The goal was to demonstrate the library's value to senior administration and help answer questions about collections, services and operations using data. Remaining questions include knowing in advance what specific issues administrators hope to address through data analysis.

1. Visualizing Library Data
Bohyun Kim
Associate Director for Library Applications/Knowledge Systems
University of Maryland, Baltimore
@bohyunkim
Code4Lib 2016 Conference

2. Data for ___?
• Data for proving the usage of library collections & services
: A vanity dashboard demonstrating the library’s value
OR
• Data for better decision-making
: A decision-making tool

3. Perennial Questions
• What data do we have?
• What does the data tell us?

4. We Decided to Build a Prototype!
• “LibStats” project
• A small team of two people
• We inventoried all data sources programmable through connecting to
either a backend db or a vendor-provided API
• Then we made a lot of charts and graphs.
(PHP + Google Charts Library)
• Then we showed them to the senior administration.

5. Data Sources
• ClickyStats
(home-grown reference service tracking system)
• Workshop teaching statistics
(home-grown teaching activities tracking system)
• Aleph (ILS)
• ILLiad (Interlibrary loan)
• EDS (Counter data)
• Google Analytics (for our websites)
• Youtube (Instrucitonal videos)
• LibGuides, LibAnswers, LibCal
• And more…

6. Some Examples

7. Info Desk Services Stats throughout the week

8. Library website views throughout the week

9. People do not use combined search

10. Library Workshops – Registrants and Sessions

11. Users from which school signed up for library
workshops?

12. Discovery layer-EDS

13. E-books users want
but we don’t have

14. Databases that need
more user seats

15. Which school borrows most articles through
our ILL service?

16. Which other library borrows most articles
from our library?

17. On which day of the week do people return
most library books?

18. Is This Useful Enough? Remaining Questions.
• What question did you expect to find answers for using the library
data?
• Some observations are useful.
• But better to know what questions you are looking to answer in
advance.
• What questions are you looking to answer?