Learn essential data literacy skills to make informed decisions and tell compelling stories about your library. 

Course Description 

Data is everywhere, but how can librarians collect the right kinds of data and make the most sense of the data they have in order to make sound decisions? This online course will cover the best practices for collecting data from your community, including discussing survey design from a user experience perspective. You will learn techniques for cleaning, analyzing, interpreting, and visualizing data. You will leave with practical tips to recognize your data weak spots and become empowered to create a more data literate library. 

This course includes one half-day (four hours) of live, online presentations from an expert speaker, as well as three weeks of a guided asynchronous workshop with facilitated peer cohorts and assignments. In this workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to practice what you’ve learned through prompted activities, share and crowdsource issues with peers, and get feedback from peers and your facilitator.

The live sessions run on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 12:00 to 5:00 pm (recorded for on demand viewing) with an asynchronous workshop over 3 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Learning Outcomes

After you attend this course, you’ll be able to:

• Understand the steps required to collect, analyze, and act on data

• Evaluate your own data fluency

• Identify what data skills you have and are missing

• Identify what data you are collecting and what you need to make specific decisions

• Evaluate data collections and analysis plans based on changing organizational needs

• Analyze and map data to make decisions and gain insights

• Present data and proposed decisions to different audiences including senior management and library users

• Implement developments based on data collection and analysis

Who should take this course?

This course is geared toward people with an emerging level of data fluency. It will be most relevant for library managers or staff who deal directly with data.

Course Features 

This is an online course with a half-day of live, online speaker presentations and an asynchronous 3-week workshop and will include:

• Live sessions: Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field. (All sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.) 

• Facilitated discussions: Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers.

• Asynchronous workshop: Project-based weekly assignments to connect what you’re learning to your professional life. Includes written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator, as well as peer conversation via discussion forums.

• Early access on-demand resources: Access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace. 

• Online Classroom: The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends. 

Course Advisor

Expected time commitment

If you attend or watch the recordings of all live sessions and participate fully in the asynchronous workshop, you'll spend approximately 4 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 12 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion. 

On-demand access

All live guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on-demand for six months following the initial broadcast as a part of your purchase.

Certificate of completion 

Complete the course and earn 12 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you. 

Accessibility

All guest speaker sessions feature auto captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

Support

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.

Group Rates

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more. Groups have the option to collaborate in the same workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select “Bulk Course Credits Packages” in the form below. 

Request a group discount!

By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.

Course & Workshop Introduction | 12:00-12:20 pm ET
An introduction to the weekly assignments, an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course, and a chance to complete the course pre-assessment.

Session 1 | 12:20-1:30 pm ET
An Introduction to Data Fluency 
How can librarians collect the right kinds of data and make the most sense of the data they have in order to make sound decisions? The introductory session will cover a practical, A to Z process for data, from collection to reporting. You will leave understanding how to engage with and understand the data you have at each step of the process. 

Speaker: 

Amy Stubbing, University Librarian at Solent University

Session 2 | 1:30-2:30 pm ET
User Experience and DataHow can you ensure you are centering your users and their experiences in all of your data processes? This session will cover the foundations of user experience (UX) as it relates to collecting, analyzing, and engaging with data. You'll gain practical tips for designing effective surveys, as well as explore alternative methods for gathering both behavioral and attitudinal data. You'll learn how data from user research can inform and enhance the design of products and services to truly meet users' needs.

Speaker: 

Rebecca Blakiston, Senior Service Designer, MO Studio

Break | 2:30-2:45 pm ET

Session 3 | 2:45-3:45 pm ET
Data Narration, Visualization, and ReportingHow do you narrate data to maximize its impact? How do you combine data narration and visualize data in a meaningful way? This session will cover the foundations of telling stories with data to advocate for libraries. You will learn how to use the Data Storytelling Toolkit for Libraries and how to choose narrative structures that will make the most impact for your unique needs. Leave with practical ways to use data narration and visualization to create compelling and actionable reports.

Speaker: 

Dr. Kate McDowell (she/her/hers) Associate Professor, School of Information Sciences, Center for Social & Behavioral Science Affiliate at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Break | 3:45-4:00 pm ET

Session 4 | 4:00-4:30 pm ET
Ethics and Kindness of Data
How can you ensure you’re using data ethically and appropriately? What might using data with a kindness framework look like? This session will discuss how to be careful, kind, and people-minded when working with data. 

Speaker: 

Helen Rimmer, Author of The Kind Librarian, Founder, The Kind Brave Leader; Kindness and Wellbeing Coach, Consultant, and Facilitator

Session 5 | 4:30-5:00 pm ET
What’s Next? The ‘Doing’ with the Data
What do you do once you have collected, analyzed, and even reported on your data? How do you determine and take action on next steps? This closing session will discuss how to establish processes to reflect on and make the best use of data, as well as how to use data to make a case to your leadership. Leave with ideas for how to get the most out of your data processes and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Speaker: 

Lisa Fraser, (she,her) Organizational Strategy Manager, King County Library System

Online Course Preview

A preview of how we build your library skills and bring inspiration to your projects with our online learning experience.

Course Format

One-Week Timeline (Course Runs 3+ Weeks)

DAYS 1-2 On-Demand	DAY 3 4 hours	DAYS 4-7 1-2 hours (optional)
PRE-LIVE SESSION - Resources - Discussions - Bonus Content	LIVE SESSIONS - Guest speakers via webcast -  Facilitated discussions - Recordings available for 6 months	ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP - Project-based weekly assignments - Written feedback from a facilitator - Peer conversation via discussion forums

Course Features

Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace	Live Guest Speakers Sessions Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field.  Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers. Optional interactive working sessions with breakout groups during live sessions to practice skills with peers.

Recordings of guest speakers

Recordings Available On Demand Sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.

Asynchronous workshop

Online Classroom + Asynchronous Workshop The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends.  Live session recordings. Project-based weekly assignments.  Written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator. Peer conversation via discussion forums.

Early Access On-Demand Resources

Early Access On-Demand Resources Bonus: Register early and get access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace.  Some courses include supporting resources in the online classroom.