Library Analytics and Metrics

Ben Showers is a Digital Transformation Manager at the Cabinet Office. Previously Ben worked at Jisc where he was Head of Scholarly and Library Futures working on projects that included a shared library analytics service, as well as projects exploring the future of library systems, digital libraries, usability and digitization.

• Introduction: getting the measure of analytics and metricsLibrary analyticsThe street-light effectLearning analyticsAbout this bookChapter summariesAnalytics and metrics: a brief note on definitionsReferences 1. Library data: big and smallChapter overviewDefining big and small dataSmall and big data in librariesCASE STUDY 1.1 The potential of data to inform personalized recommendations at the Open University Library - Richard Nurse CASE STUDY 1.2 Library ‘big data’: developing a shared analytics service for academic libraries - Ben Showers Chapter conclusionBig and small data: further resourcesReferences 2. Data-driven collections managementChapter overviewThe collections turnManaging the local collectionManaging the ‘national’ collectionCASE STUDY2.1 Building an analytics toolkit at the Harvard Library - Kim Dulin and Carli Spina CASE STUDY 2.2 Collection management analytics: the Copac Collection Management tools project - Shirley Cousins and Diana Massam Chapter conclusionData-driven collections management: further resourcesReferences 3. Using data to demonstrate library impact and valueChapter overviewDoes library use have an impact on student success?The analytics turn in librariesThe ethics of impactCASE STUDY 3.1 Library impact data: investigating library use and student attainment - Graham Stone CASE STUDY 3.2 Retention, student success and academic engagement at Minnesota - Shane Nackerud, Jan Fransen, Kate Peterson and Kristen Mastel CASE STUDY 3.3 The Library Cube:revealing the impact of library use on student performance - Brian Cox and Margie Jantti Chapter conclusion: from knowing to showing!Library impact and value: further resourcesNotesReferences 4. Going beyond the numbers: using qualitative research to transform the library user experienceChapter overviewQualitative research and the user experienceQualitative research and emerging user needsA mix of skills and methodologiesCASE STUDY 4.1 Utilizing qualitative research methods to measure library effectiveness: developing an engaging library experience - Lynn Silipigni Connaway, Erin M. Hood and Carrie E. Vass CASE STUDY 4.2 Ethnographic techniques and new visions for libraries - Donna Lanclos Chapter conclusionQualitative library research: further resourcesNote References 5. Web and social media metrics for the cultural heritage sectorChapter overviewWeb metrics and analytics in the cultural heritage sectorThe social webThe future of web metricsCASE STUDY 5.1 The web impact of cultural heritage institutions - David Stuart CASE STUDY 5.2 'Let’s Get Real': A Journey Towards Understanding and Measuring Digital Engagement - Sejul Malde, Jane Finnis, Anra Kennedy, Elena Villaespesa, Seb Chan and Mia Ridge Chapter conclusionSocial and media metrics: further resourcesReferences 6. Understanding and managing the risks of analyticsChapter overviewRedrawing the boundaries of privacyWhose data is it anyway?The importance of data flowsCASE STUDY 6.1 The legal, risk and ethical aspects of analytics - Ian Chowcat, David Kay and Naomi Korn Chapter conclusionUnderstanding the risks of analytics: further resourcesReferences 7. Conclusion: towards a data-driven future?References

I would heartily recommend the book to all professional librarians, but also to educators, as it provides good examples not only of data usage, but also of critical thinking.