Library Analytics and Metrics: Using Data to Drive Decisions and Services

Ben Showers

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$85.50
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$95.00
Item Number
978-1-85604-965-8
Published
2015
Publisher
Facet Publishing, UK
Pages
224
Width
6"
Height
9"
Format
Softcover

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  • Description
  • Table of Contents
  • About the author
  • Reviews

With the wealth of data available to library and information services, analytics are the key to truly understanding your users and your field of operations and to improving your services. This book details the many opportunities analytics present to libraries, and provides inspiration for how you can use the data within your systems to help inform decisions and drive services. Using case studies to provide real-life examples of current developments and services, this essential guide brings together a group of internationally recognized experts to explore some of the key issues in the exploitation of data analytics and metrics in libraries, including

  • The role of data in helping inform decision making
  • Approaches to collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data
  • Using analytics to develop new services and improve the user experience
  • The opportunities of library data as "big data"
  • The role of "small data" in delivering meaningful interventions for users
  • Practical advice on managing the risks and ethics of data analytics
  • How analytics can help uncover new types of impact and value for institutions and organizations

This book will show you how to use data to help make informed decisions, develop new services, and improve user experience at your institution.

Introduction: getting the measure of analytics and metrics

  • Library analytics
  • The street-light effect
  • Learning analytics
  • About this book
  • Chapter summaries
  • Analytics and metrics: a brief note on definitions
  • References  

1. Library data: big and small

  • Chapter overview
  • Defining big and small data
  • Small and big data in libraries
  • CASE STUDY 1.1 The potential of data to inform personalized recommendations at the Open University Library - Richard Nurse
  • CASE STUDY 1.2 Library ‘big data': developing a shared analytics service for academic libraries - Ben Showers
  • Chapter conclusion
  • Big and small data: further resources
  • References  

2. Data-driven collections management

  • Chapter overview
  • The collections turn
  • Managing the local collection
  • Managing the ‘national' collection
  • CASE STUDY2.1 Building an analytics toolkit at the Harvard Library - Kim Dulin and Carli Spina
  • CASE STUDY 2.2 Collection management analytics: the Copac Collection Management tools project - Shirley Cousins and Diana Massam
  • Chapter conclusion
  • Data-driven collections management: further resources
  • References  

3. Using data to demonstrate library impact and value

  • Chapter overview
  • Does library use have an impact on student success?
  • The analytics turn in libraries
  • The ethics of impact
  • CASE STUDY 3.1 Library impact data: investigating library use and student attainment - Graham Stone
  • CASE STUDY 3.2 Retention, student success and academic engagement at Minnesota - Shane Nackerud, Jan Fransen, Kate Peterson and Kristen Mastel
  • CASE STUDY 3.3 The Library Cube:revealing the impact of library use on student performance - Brian Cox and Margie Jantti
  • Chapter conclusion: from knowing to showing!
  • Library impact and value: further resources
  • Notes
  • References  

4. Going beyond the numbers: using qualitative research to transform the library user experience

  • Chapter overview
  • Qualitative research and the user experience
  • Qualitative research and emerging user needs
  • A mix of skills and methodologies
  • CASE STUDY 4.1 Utilizing qualitative research methods to measure library effectiveness: developing an engaging library experience - Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Erin M. Hood and Carrie E. Vass
  • CASE STUDY 4.2 Ethnographic techniques and new visions for libraries - Donna Lanclos
  • Chapter conclusion
  • Qualitative library research: further resources
  • Note  
  • References  

5. Web and social media metrics for the cultural heritage sector

  • Chapter overview
  • Web metrics and analytics in the cultural heritage sector
  • The social web
  • The future of web metrics
  • CASE STUDY 5.1 The web impact of cultural heritage institutions - David Stuart
  • CASE STUDY 5.2 'Let's Get Real': A Journey Towards Understanding and Measuring Digital Engagement - Sejul Malde, Jane Finnis, Anra Kennedy, Elena Villaespesa, Seb Chan and Mia Ridge
  • Chapter conclusion
  • Social and media metrics: further resources
  • References  

6. Understanding and managing the risks of analytics

  • Chapter overview
  • Redrawing the boundaries of privacy
  • Whose data is it anyway?
  • The importance of data flows
  • CASE STUDY 6.1 The legal, risk and ethical aspects of analytics - Ian Chowcat, David Kay and Naomi Korn
  • Chapter conclusion
  • Understanding the risks of analytics: further resources
  • References  

7. Conclusion: towards a data-driven future?

  • References

Ben Showers

Ben Showers is a Digital Transformation Manager at the Cabinet Office. Previously he worked at Jisc, where he was Head of Scholarly and Library Futures working on projects that included a shared library analytics service, as well as projects exploring the future of library systems, digital libraries, usability and digitization.


"I would heartily recommend the book to all professional librarians, but also to educators, as it provides good examples not only of data usage, but also of critical thinking."
— Information Research

"At the core of each section are real-life examples of data-driven decisions based on current library scenarios. This approach sets the text apart from other publications on the subject, and readers will be aided by the practical advice ... Relevant to library directors and administrators of cultural heritage institutions looking to create a data-driven approach to decision making and the development of services. A valuable resource for anyone who serves as a liaison to faculty and students along with those who manage library systems and services."
— Library Journal

"...a great, varied and in-depth look at the current usage of analytics and metrics in the library sector and there are some valuable case studies captured that will hopefully help inform those undertaking their own data-driven projects or facing pressure to provide impact or usage evidence to their organizations."
— MmIT Journal

"...In addition to Showers' brief yet thorough introduction to the topic and his concise chapter summaries, a strength of this book is the methodologies and lessons the reader learns from the case studies."
— Library and Information Science Research