While collections dashboards are often used as an external communications tool, they have additional applications for improving internal processes and assisting subject selectors. The result of a collaboration between a subject selector, data librarian, and collection development librarian, this presentation focuses on the identification of data sources, the process of parsing collection data by subject area, and practical visualizations to support evidence-based decision making in subject collection development. Of particular interest to attendees may be visualization techniques for linking multiple data sources, from acquisitions data to holdings data, publisher provided usage data and library collected user experience data. Using Tableau, the presenters have developed dashboard frameworks to support collections decision making.

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Lindsay Cronk
and Wenli Gao
University of
Houston

2. Welcome!

5. Techniques Over Tools

6. Why Tableau
 Current Academic
Standard
 Speed
 Analysis
 Data Layer
 Cloud-Based
 Drag and
Drop/WISIWIG
 Free (Public)
 Beautiful

7. But also because I am concerned about
statements like these in professional literature.
“In the end, the authors found most success generating data
bubbles using Microsoft Excel (version 2010), which is
probably familiar to the widest audience and requires no
special programming skills.”
– Jannette L. Finch and Angela R. Flenner, College of
Charleston
Excerpt from “Using Data Visualization to Examine an
Academic Library Collection”
Forthcoming, College and Research Libraries

8. We cannot cling to Excel for data
presentation because it is familiar
and we don’t want to have to learn
to code.

9. AND we will only begin to
understand researcher data needs
when we begin to treat our data as
worthy of analysis and visualization.

10. How will applying visualization
enhance collection assessment?

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13. Historically, we’ve focused on:
Usage
Cost
Content

14. Using Subject Experts to Super Power
Collections Data
 Create Criteria for Analyzing the Collection
 Integrating Systematic Review into
Acquisitions Calendar

15. Other Data Integration Opportunities
to Consider for Collection Assessment
 Transaction Logs
 eResource Help Desk Tickets
 FTE info

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17. We need to change.

18. Stop formatting spreadsheets for
casual review.

19. Use spreadsheets to feed
visualizations, provide
narrative/stats for the detail-
oriented.

20. Use formulas from injestible
sheets to create standard sheets
as required.

21. Let’s form a committee to end
duplicative data entry.

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23. The usual suspects.

24. Subject Expert
Review
https://uhlibrary.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/previ
ew/SV_0rD9BlmbMCDnCGV

25. What information can we capture?
 Management Related Information
 Content Based Information
 Disciplinary Value
 Major User Group(s)
 User Experience Assessment
 Historic Information

26. Creating a Database of the
Information We Need.

27. Layers of
Information
Lenses for Assessment

28. Decision-Based Evidence Making
and
Evidence-Based Decision Making
TM Lisa Hinchcliffe, 10/31/2016, LAC Keynote

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30. Combining cost, usage, content,
and qualititative information.

31. Applying the subject assignments:
1) Databases
2) Monographs
3) Serials Fund Codes

32. Spreadsheet
available upon
request.
Email me.

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34. SAG Dashboards
Visualization with
analysis/
interaction points by:
Month,
Vendor,
Spend,
Usage

35. Database Review
Sheet
More detailed view available upon request

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37. Moving towards centralized
Subject Area Dashboards.

38. Developing subject-level
dashboards for high needs areas.

39. Critical to success:
1) Alignment with Existing Processes
2) Clear Goals/Action Points
3) Subject Liaison Participation
4) Pilot Projecct Flexibility

40. Next:
Facilitating and building a
community of practice in
collection data visualization.

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