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VisualizationMaking an Impact with

Your Data An Online Presentation at

Outcomes, Value, & ImpactMetrics for Libraries Success

By Greg R. NotessBusiness; 405

Chemistry; 117Engineering; 148

Music; 177

Workshops; 121

Tour; 10

Other; 124

Instruction: # of Students

1,102

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Tactics and Techniques

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Information Visualization = Storytelling• Tagul Word Cloud

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Info Lit & Core Story• Presentation to New Core Committee• Limited Preparation Time• Quick Call for Data

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Data Dump to Annual Report

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Annual Report to External Audience

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Better Options• Highlight Key Points

Info Lit Students30%

No Info Lit Instruction70%

MSU Students

8

Standard Charts and Overview• Choosing the right data• Choosing the right chart type• Numerical Data: Chart• Geographic Component: Data Map

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Comparing Parts of a Whole?• Pie Chart or Stacked Bar Chart

Info Lit Students30%

No Info Lit In-struction

70%

MSU Students

FY2013

FY2014

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000

5237

4570

8917

10724

MSU StudentsTaught Info Lit vs. No IL Instruction

Info Lit No Info Lit

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Compare Change Over Time?• Line Chart

FY2012 FY2013 FY20140

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Decreasing Students Numbers Taught Info Lit

Info Lit No Info Lit FY2012 FY2013 FY20140%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

IL Reach

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Other Types• Frequency Distribution or Items Within Ranges• Step Column or Line Chart

• Correlation Comparison or Relationship between Variables• Scatter Chart or Paired Bar chart

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Data Map Types• Numerical Data? • Pushpin

• Numerical Single Field? • Shaded Area

• Numerical Multiple Fields? • Pie or Column Chart

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7 Basic Rules for Making Charts and Graphssnipr.com/7chartrules [flowingdata.com]1. Check Data2. Explain Encodings (Clear Legends) 3. Label Axes4. Include Units5. Keep Geometry in Check6. Include Sources7. Consider Audience

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Tools

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Chart Choosing• Juicy Labs’ Chart Chooser labs.juiceanalytics.com/chartchooser

• Includes Templates

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Spreadsheet RecommendationsExcel Charts• Recommended Charts • Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts• Many Add-Ins

Google Sheet• Insert Chart/Chart Editor• Recommended Charts• Also has Many Add-ons

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Web Sites & Services iCharts.net• Free for individual; otherwise

commercial• Supports real-time data

ZingChart.com • JavaScript Charts for Web Sites• Free and Fee Versions• Can handle Big Data

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InfographicsInfogr.am• Three Step Infographics:

1. Choose Template2. Add Data3. Share

• Can be Interactive & Use Real-Time Data• Changed Terms• Only 10 Infographics for Free

Piktochart.com• Free and Pro accounts• Multiple Types• Infographic• Reports• Banners• Presentations

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Word CloudsWordle.net• The standard word cloud maker• Note the many features & optionsTagul.com• Can choose or upload shape• Animated or Static• More export options

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Data Maps• Excel• Bing Maps Add-In• Power View

• Download and/or Install Needed• Geographic Data in

Spreadsheet

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Google Fusion Tables google.com/fusiontables • “An experimental data visualization web application to gather,

visualize, and share data tables”• If Location Data is Included and Identified, Can Create Map • Many Public Data Sources

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Color Help?ColorBrewer2.org• Color Advice for Cartography • Choose • Number of Data Classes• Nature of Data• Color Schemes

• Colorblind safe option

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Selected ReadingsFichter, Darlene and Jeff Wisniewski. "Telling Your Library's Story One Number at a Time." Online Searcher 38, no. 4 (2014): 74-76.

Lyons, Ray, "Lib(Rary) Performance“ libperformance.com

McDermott, Irene E. "Show, Don't Tell: Data Visualization for Libraries." Online Searcher 38, no. 4 (2014): 35-37.

Phelps, Marcy. "Visualization Tools for Turning Information into Insights." Online 36, no. 5 (2012): 14-19.