This book shows how to act on and make sense of data in libraries. Using a range of techniques, tools and methodologies it explains how data can be used to help inform decision making at every level.

Sound data analytics is the foundation for making an evidence-based case for libraries, in addition to guiding myriad organizational decisions, from optimizing operations for efficiency to responding to community needs. Designed to be useful for beginners as well as those with a background in data, this book introduces the basics of a six point framework that can be applied to a variety of library settings for effective system based, data-driven management.

Library Improvement Through Data Analytics includes:

• the basics of statistical concepts
• recommended data sources for various library functions and processes, and guidance for using census, university, or government data in analysis
• techniques for cleaning data
• matching data to appropriate data analysis methods
• how to make descriptive statistics more powerful by spotlighting relationships
• 14 practical case studies, covering topics such as access and retrieval, digitization, e-book collection development, staffing, facilities, and instruction.

This book’s clear, concise coverage will enable librarians, archivists, curators and technologists of every experience level to gain a better understanding of statistics in order to facilitate library improvement.