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<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:95.75pt;height:95.75pt;z-index:-251658752;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="128" height="128" style="width:1.3333in;height:1.3333in" src="cid:image002.png@01DB93EF.F73DC950" align="left" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I
recently attended Michigan Library Association’s webinar “Data Storytelling for Libraries.” It made me think about how in libraries, like many other places, progress and success are measured by data. We are often asked to provide evidence of library value.
How we obtain, interpret, and share our data can demonstrate this value to our communities. The <a href="https://mel.org/welcome" target="_blank">Michigan eLibrary</a> (MeL) includes eBooks and articles that can help library staff members learn how to gather
and utilize data.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">How do I gather data?</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Being able to communicate effectively and convey the story of the library through data is one of the best ways to engage a community and get them excited about your mission. <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=8d23fe68-683a-3d93-af32-9216d9dba94a" target="_blank"><i>Say
it with Data: A Concise Guide to Making Your Case and Getting Results</i></a> in the <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-e000xna" target="_blank">eBook Academic Collection</a> is a good place to start when
learning about data and libraries. It includes methods used to gather, measure, and present data including communication strategies and checklists to help prepare for surveys, focus groups, and presentations. There are also sample surveys and results analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Which chart would work best?</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Another eBook in the <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-e000xna" target="_blank">eBook Academic Collection</a> can help us understand the principles of
data visualization and which type of chart will work to best convey our data. <a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=3025b294-e3dc-3f57-8981-f6cf8f9bb568" target="_blank"><i>Better Data Visualizations: A Guide for Scholars, Researchers,
and Wonks</i></a> also includes information to help decide which colors and symbols will make a chart most readable and examples of tools that can be used to create graphs and charts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Show me examples!</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If you’re looking for examples of how a library has carried out successful data collection to make decisions, Jane Martel’s article "<a href="https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=67a7742c-3aee-31b2-a3f8-8436090e9dd9" target="_blank">Creating
Value From Data: Informing Decisions & Improving Public Library Services</a>" from <a href="https://auth.mel.org/newera/check-direct?url=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspub&AN=edp3941&site=pfi-live" target="_blank">American
Libraries</a> in <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-lls" target="_blank">Library & Information Science Source</a>, provides examples of how different departments in her library system have used data to
make decisions about their purchasing, programs, and services. Reviewing data across departments helped to better understand how to improve vital areas of the library including summer reading, facilities, outreach, and resource allocation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">As libraries are asked to demonstrate their value in communities, use the <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-e000xna" target="_blank">eBook Academic Collection</a> and <a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-lls" target="_blank">Library
& Information Science Source</a> from <a href="https://mel.org/welcome" target="_blank">MeL</a> to locate additional helpful content and learn best practices in data collection and sharing methods to make clear and convincing points about the materials, services,
and programs the library provides to its patrons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact </span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="mailto:melerhelp@mcls.org"><b>melerhelp@mcls.org</b></a><b> for help.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Brought to you by <b>Laura Warren-Gross</b> from the MeL Team. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Want more information on MeL?</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library
listservs,</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> visit</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="http://mel.org/" target="_blank">http://mel.org</a>,
or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new" target="_blank">GovDelivery</a>. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Laura Warren-Gross</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none">MeL Engagement Specialist for Public Libraries</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Midwest Collaborative for Library Services <br>
517-481-2022 </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">warren-grossl@mcls.org</span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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