Part One, Using Analytics to Extract Value from the Library's Data

Webinar

Part One of Two, Analytics Behind The Scenes

Faced with a highly diverse combination of externally and internally collected data (web visits, gate counter, collection usage, subject analysis, budgets, space use, reference help interactions, etc.), academic libraries have rapidly mastered the value and use of analytics. Whether analyzing prospective subscription packages to determine their value for an institution’s research activities or reviewing usage data drawn from the local digital repository, libraries want to extract meaning from the increasing volume of library data. What does that data look like? How should that data be managed? And in what combinations is that data most enlightening?

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Suzanna Conrad, Associate Dean for Digital Technologies & Resource Management, University Library, California State University, Sacramento
  • Corey Harper, Data Scientist / Sr. Tech. Researcher, Elsevier Labs
  • Steven Braun, Data Analytics and Visualization SpecialistNortheastern University Libraries

Part Two of this two-part webinar, Actionable Data Analysis, will be held on Wednesday, September 19,  2018. 

Event Sessions

Separating the Wheat from the Chaff; Developing a Scalable Strategy for Gathering and Reporting Analytics

Speaker

Suzanna Conrad

Associate Dean for Digital Technologies and Resource Management
California State University, Sacramento

Effective data analysis can support much decision-making in the library, however, it can be challenging to ensure that you’ve captured all the data you need. At the same time, it is possible to collect too much data that ultimately can overwhelm those tasked with analysis. This presentation will discuss how to create a strategy for gathering and reporting analytics in three parts: framing the questions that are important to answer, auditing all potential points where data is collected, and evaluating which data should ultimately be considered for analysis and visualization.  

Analytics Beyond Usage Numbers: Applying analytics to metadata, content, and research

Speaker

Data analysis in libraries is often focused on the usage of collections and services. The community has been putting increased effort into using data warehouses and visualization tools to track gate counts, circulation statistics, and budgets. These same data science and data visualization techniques are applicable to our metadata, content, and research information as well. This presentation will discuss metadata analytics with a focus on the shape, quality, and effectiveness of digital collections metadata. Additionally, drawing on the experience of doing technology research in a large scale information analytics business, the presentation will address applying these techniques to content itself, from bibliometrics, citation analysis, and citing sentences to natural language processing, knowledge extraction, knowledge graph engineering, and more.

Stewarding Analytics through Data Visualization in Library Settings

Speaker

Steven Braun

Data Analytics and Visualization Specialist
Northeastern University Libraries

Regardless of one’s role or title, it seems that data are an increasingly common talking point for libraries everywhere. Whether connecting users to data available for consumption through subscription resources or analyzing in-house data about their own services, activities, and materials, libraries often encounter an important challenge: given how much data pass through the hands of library staff on a daily basis, how does one know what to do with them? Data visualization represents one such response to this question, but it must be employed appropriately and rigorously. In this webinar, attendees will obtain a basic understanding of data visualization and its role in library settings. How can libraries function as stewards of data, for users and internal administration alike? What is data visualization, and how can it help us in that stewardship? This presentation will address these questions, showing some examples of their use and suggesting resources for further learning.

Additional Information

  • Cancellations made by Wednesday, September 5, 2018 will receive a refund, less a $35 cancellation. After that date, there are no refunds.

  • Registrants will receive detailed instructions about accessing the virtual conference via e-mail the Friday prior to the event. (Anyone registering between Monday and the close of registration will receive the message shortly after the registration is received, within normal business hours.) Due to the widespread use of spam blockers, filters, out of office messages, etc., it is your responsibility to contact the NISO office if you do not receive login instructions before the start of the webinar.

  • If you have not received your Login Instruction e-mail by 10 a.m. (ET) on the day before the virtual conference, please contact the NISO office at nisohq@niso.org for immediate assistance.

  • Registration is per site (access for one computer) and includes access to the online recorded archive of the conference. You may have as many people as you like from the registrant's organization view the conference from that one connection. If you need additional connections, you will need to enter a separate registration for each connection needed.

  • If you are registering someone else from your organization, either use that person's e-mail address when registering or contact nisohq@niso.org to provide alternate contact information.

  • Conference presentation slides and Q&A will be posted to this event webpage following the live conference.

  • Registrants will receive an e-mail message containing access information to the archived conference recording within 48 hours after the event. This recording access is only to be used by the registrant's organization.

For Online Events

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  • NISO uses the Zoom platform to deliver its virtual events. Audio is available through the computer (broadcast) and by telephone. We recommend you have a set-up for telephone audio as back-up even if you plan to use the broadcast audio as the voice over Internet isn't always 100% reliable.

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