Achievement
For
Address Deficits
Demonstrate that investments to address deficits are effective and valuable.
Data Story Format
"We are analyzing data from ___[our community]___ so that we can showcase our __[achievement(s)]___ that improve on our __[previous deficits]__."
Possible Use
We are analyzing numbers from our standard library counts (visits, circulation, program attendance, etc.) so that we can showcase our new approach to holistic analysis in relation to changing data about our community. These practices improve the content and clarity of our annual reports and presentations.
Real Story Examples
Learning From Our Statistics: The project recommends against making specific statistics or datapoints the library’s goal. Instead, the goal should be to focus on what is happening in the community and the library to create certain outcomes. Statistics can be a useful tool for librarians to measure their activities. However, using data only reflects the success of work done in the library and not the whole picture.
Brave Voices, Brave Choices: A Look into Howard County Library System's Racial Equity Initiative: Black residents in Howard County, Maryland have the worst outcomes across most self-sufficiency indicators such as unemployment, poverty, and evictions. The Brave Voices, Brave Choices (BVBC) initiative consisted of community-led projects aimed at advancing racial equality. The BVBC hosted story sharing, the Equity Resource Center, author and speaker events, vaccine outreach, digital equity resources, classes, and community conversations.
Action Plan for Alaska Boarding School History: Many records of Alaskan Native Boarding Schools were unorganized and hard to locate, due to a lack of a centralized search tool making research on the topic extremely difficult. A number of museums, archives, libraries, and churches in Alaska came together to help create a finding aid meant to assist those interested in learning about Alaskan boarding schools and their legacy.
Digital Literacy: The New Mexico State Library promotes digital learning opportunities for kids, teens, and adults. These hands-on programs expose patrons to new technology, as well as build a fundamental understanding of how electronics work. Maker pop-up programs were well-attended and residents indicated a desire to learn more about various technologies showcased.
Data Visualization Recommendations
General Guidance
Achievement: Consider using one or more line charts to indicate differences (like before and after) if needs could be met, and indicate the differences with an arrow to draw the audience's attention. In general, line charts are the best choice for indicating change over time. Or use a bar chart to indicate the impact of increasingly serving needs over time.
