Better Library Data

Better Library Data

Announcing Better Library Data – a short-course for this fall! 
  
Let’s use this RIPL program (12 Months to Better Library Data) as our framework and support each other in doing small data projects fall 2026. Our goals are:   
  1. Build data confidence   
  2. Improve library data  
  3. Get more library data projects done  
It is free for MnPALS members and $100/person for others, with a maximum of 30 people.
  
Led by Johnna Horton and Jill Holman, who have previously created these MnPALS short courses:  
  1. Data Literacy Intensive for Librarians 2022  
  2. Advocate for your Library with Effective Data Storytelling 2023 
At each Zoom session we will discuss what was most useful from the RIPL webinars and support each other in working on our projects. Then the final session will be discussion of the project presentation videos. The course will run 8/28/26-11/20/26. 

Course schedule: 

Zoom Session 9:30-12
RIPL Webinars to Discuss
Work on your project with some D2L tasks


Begin introduction in D2L – 8/28/26
9/11/2026
March-May 
Plan your project
9/25/2026
June-August 
Collect your data
10/9/2026
September-November 
Analyze your data 
10/23/2026
December-February
Create short presentation video
11/6/2026

Discuss presentations


Final revisions and reflection due – 11/20/26


We will use D2L to house the short course and communicate before and after our Zoom sessions. You should expect to spend a couple hours/week on your project. Since fall term is a busy time, you are encouraged to review the RIPL materials ahead of time. (They are already freely available – start as soon as you can!)  
  
We anticipate that participants will have a range of experience. If you are a beginner with library data, you can get things set up well from the start. If you are experienced with library data, you can improve what you are doing. Each person is expected to be engaged in the work and supporting each other. There will be several opportunities for project feedback and revision so you can complete your small data project in November.  
  
We are accepting applications for Better Library Data now!  (The deadline is 4/24/26 and you will hear back in early May.)



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