For immediate release | June 10, 2016

Library improvement through data analytics

CHICAGO — More than ever, funding agencies are looking for cost effectiveness. Sound data analytics is the foundation for making an evidence-based case for library programs, in addition to guiding myriad organizational decisions, from optimizing operations for efficiency to responding to community needs for customer satisfaction. Designed to be useful for novices as well as those with a background in data, “Library Improvement Through Data Analytics,” published by ALA Neal-Schuman, introduces the basics of the Six Sigma framework as a model that can be applied to a variety of library settings. Helping readers make sense of data, authors Lesley S. J. Farmer and Alan M. Safer cover such key topics as:

  • the basics of statistical concepts;
  • recommended data sources for various library functions and processes, and guidance for using census, university, or chamber of commerce 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 case studies which address such areas as digitization, e-book collection development, and reference; and
  • staffing, facilities, and instruction.

Dr. Farmer, professor at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), coordinates the Librarianship Program. She chairs the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ School Libraries Section and is a Fulbright Scholar. Dr. Farmer received the American Library Association Beta Phi Mu Award for distinguished service and library education. A frequent presenter and writer for the profession, Farmer has published over 30 professional books and more than a 100 professional book chapters and articles. Dr. Safer is a professor at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Early in his career at the university, he created a MS degree in Applied Statistics and later a professional accelerated MS degree in Applied Statistics for industry students from companies such as Boeing, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman. In 2012, he was appointed coordinator of a national conference on quality control sponsored by the American Statistical Association.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. Founded in 1976 by Patricia Glass Schuman and John Vincent Neal, Neal-Schuman Publishers, now an imprint of ALA Publishing, publishes professional books for librarians, archivists, and knowledge managers. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5052 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.

Related Links

"Library Improvement Through Data Analytics"

"Five Steps of Outcome-Based Planning and Evaluation for Public Libraries"

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

Contact:

Rob Christopher

Marketing Coordinator

American Library Association

ALA Publishing

rchristopher@ala.org

312-280-5052