OLA Annual Conference 2017

From large cities to rural towns and from universities to elementary schools, libraries have been central to communities thriving. Alas, sometimes decision-makers don’t see a library’s worth, so they can be threatened by policy change and budget cuts. Fortunately, libraries already collect a wealth of quantitative and qualitative data that not only show our impact but also allow us to improve upon our services. This panel, including librarians from state, academic, public, and school libraries, will discuss how you can use data to demonstrate your library’s value to administrators and lawmakers. Panelists also will discuss how some simple data analysis can help you determine strategies and directions to better serve your patrons.