2019 Conference Program

Past, Present, Future of Trailblazing with Data for Social Change

Living in our current society where data is all around us, how can it be used as a tool for social change? Jerica Copeny explores a cross disciplinary approach on working to build civic data science projects in environments where this work is being newly developed. Her talk will explore how data has been used as a tool for social change from the past examination information trailblazers as Ida B. Wells, Jane Addams and W.E.B. Du Bois, and discuss presently how various types of organizations have begun to define how they are working to have an impact with data. In a TEDx style reflective discussion, Copeny will go over lessons learned, poignant discoveries in being one of the first data scientist in the United States to work in a public library. Her work seeks to answer, What is the public library’s role in utilizing data science for social change? Through the sharing of her experiences, she will explore techniques on how each of us can work to answer how we can influence social change for the future with data.

Jerica Copeny
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Opportunities of Evidence: Using Best Practices of Data-Driven Assessment in Evaluating Serials Subscriptions

Making decisions about continuing or cancelling serials subscriptions is a difficult process under the best of circumstances. The worst of circumstances are those under which most academic libraries operate today: shrinking acquisitions budgets; continuously rising subscription costs; balancing a need for access and an equally pressing need for preservation of information in a variety of formats. In these situations, academic librarians can borrow from best practices of assessment in terms of gathering data, examining emergent patterns, comparing quantitative research and qualitative feedback, closing the loop by making changes, and then preparing to re-evaluate these changes. In this presentation, a case study from an academic library at a state university in the Midwest will be showcased as a model of assessment best practices in determining the future of print and online periodical subscriptions.

Cynthia Kane
Emporia State University Libraries and Archives

Why FACTS still matter: Fake News and Academic Research

From parody to fabricated content, students are bombarded with information that can be difficult to interpret. The internet and social media make it possible to disseminate fake news quickly and easily, but only if you take the time to fact check. Helping students become data literate is just as important as teaching them to become information literate. Understanding the importance of using legitimate and verifiable information in an age of quick information access continues to be a vital skill for lifelong learning. We will share real examples of trying to verify sources that may, or may not, exist.

Amy Lorson and Rachel Walters
Indiana Wesleyan University

Synthesizing Library Data with a Third Party Tool: Strategies to Collect, Analyze, and Share Data throughout the Library

Do you record library data in a million places—Excel, Google, tally sheets? We did, too, until we added LibInsight to our data analysis toolbox. Learn why and how we implemented this tool, as well as how we use it to analyze across datasets to demonstrate usage and influence service design.

Meg Galasso and Angie Pusnik
Indiana University Kokomo

Analytics and Advocacy: Collective Impact through Consortial Collaboration

This session will provide an introduction to CARLI Counts: Analytics and Advocacy for Service Development” and its program design, training outcomes, and evaluation model This three-year project is continuing education library leadership immersion program that prepares librarians to make effective use of research findings on the impact of academic libraries on student success for the twin purposes of service development and library advocacy. As a result of CARLI Counts, more 75 academic libraries in Illinois will use local library data analytics in alignment with institutional data, goals, and strategic priorities to improve their services and demonstrate their value. Learn about this model of state collective impact and institutional collaboration. CARLI Counts is made possible by an Institute of Museum and Library Services, Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant Program award.

Anne Craig
Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI)

Librarians as Community Liaisons: Interacting with Data from Outside of Our Libraries

With the 2020 Census approaching, librarians are on the forefront of community outreach, as our jobs will involve helping patrons report data to the federal government. The 2020 Census is the first U.S. Census in history to provide the opportunity for online response, and we are expected to welcome the public to answer the census at our public computers. During non-census years, librarians act as guides for general patrons and for more experienced data users in many ways, providing research assistance and locating data and statistics outside of the library for public use. This program will share resources and demonstrate the ways library professionals act as community liaisons and serve as data stewards when assisting with the search for data from sources outside of the library.

Katie Springer
Indiana State University

Integrating Foundational Data Management Course into STEM

Data literacy is critical for today’s college graduates. Data science education is fundamentally an interdisciplinary endeavor. Since summer 2018, the presenters, information professionals from the libraries, have been working with instructors from Philosophy and Computer and Electrical Engineering to develop three interlocking one-credit courses at the Midwest, public research university, Purdue University. Spring 2019, the courses are offered to engineering sophomore and junior students to explore three key areas of data literacy: management; ethics; and analysis. In this session, participants will see how we developed the libraries’ one-credit course on data management and we will discuss how this course could be interlocked with two other courses. Participants are welcome to contact and work with the presenters for class implementation and research collaboration after the conference.

Wei Zakharov and Sarah Huber
Purdue University

Testing with Imperfection: UX with Incomplete Prototypes

UX testing is one of the most important and easiest ways to get patron input on library spaces and tools. Despite this it can be difficult to test a product or site in its final form. This lightning talk will give simple tips and tricks to maximize your UX testing and simulating a functioning tool with your participants.

Gary Maixner
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis

Using Institutional Values to Measure Library Outcomes

There are many questions presented to library administrators as they are increasingly asked to measure their outcomes. An understanding between administration and libraries needs to be found that balances institutional definitions of success and the professional standards of librarianship. This case study presentation explores one institution’s attempt to use the revised ACRL’s Standards for Libraries in Higher Education to demonstrate outcomes achieved and department effectiveness through its institutional values.

Catie Carlson
Tiffin University

FAIR Metadata: What Physical Sciences Users Need to Make Their Data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable

This presentation/paper will describe how physical sciences users’ interest in FAIR metadata for their projects has potential to lead to new opportunities for interdisciplinary research if appropriate consideration is given to commonality, both in philosophy and interoperability. The presenters will describe the February 27-28, 2019 FAIR Hackathon for Mathematics and the Physical Sciences (MPS) research communities, a recent event organized by researchers at the university of Notre Dame.

Natalie Meyers and Mikala Narlock
University of Notre Dame