Post on 21-Apr-2017
Data Visualization for the Rest of Us: A Beginner’s GuideLinda Hofschire
Library Research Service, Colorado State Library
www.lrs.org | @LRS_CO | @lindahofschire
SCHOOL LIBRARY IMPACT STUDIES
What do jelly beans have to do with museum visits?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jEnD_GH97o
Stories are how numbers talk to people.-Thomas Davenport
By visualizing information, we turn it into a landscape that you can explore with your eyes, a sort of information map. And when you’re lost in information, an information map is kind of useful.―David McCandless
Numbers have an important story to tell. They rely on you to give them a clear and convincing voice.―Stephen Few
The Data Visualization Continuum
Excel chart/number art in a report or presentation
Complex infographic that includes a variety
of visual elements
The Data Visualization Continuum
Excel chart/number art in a report or presentation
Complex infographic that includes a variety
of visual elements
Where are you on the continuum?
4 simple tweaks to make numbersand charts more accessible
1. PUT NUMBERS IN CONTEXT
Source: Data is Beautiful/Reddit
2. CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE CHART
2. CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE CHART
3. SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A FOCAL POINT
3. SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A FOCAL POINT
Image credit: Stephanie Evergreen
3. SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A FOCAL POINT
Image credit: Stephanie Evergreen
4. DON’T MAKE PEOPLE WORK TOO HARD TO FIND INFORMATION
<10k 10k-24,999 25k-99,999 100k-499,999 500k+0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Percentage of U.S. Public Libraries with Text, Chat, and Email Reference, 2014
Text Chat Email
Population Group
Perc
enta
ge o
f Lib
rarie
s
4. DON’T MAKE PEOPLE WORK TOO HARD TO FIND INFORMATION
<10k 10k-24,999 25k-99,999 100k-499,999 500k+0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2%11% 14%
21%
67%
9%
26% 28%
43%
100%
25% 26%
48%
75%
100%
Percentage of U.S. Public Libraries with Text, Chat, and Email Reference, 2014
Text Chat Email
Population Group
Perc
enta
ge o
f Lib
rarie
s
CHART DISSECTION
My child's enjoyment of read-ing increased
My child's reading skills increased
My child's reading by choice increased
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
49.32% 49.13%54.05%
59.28% 57.71%60.39%61.22% 59.01%
61.86%
Chart 3Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's Enjoy-
ment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice Increased af-ter Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondentsParents of children ages 4-6Families participating in summer reading for the first time
My child's enjoyment of read-ing increased
My child's reading skills increased
My child's reading by choice increased
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
49.32% 49.13%54.05%
59.28% 57.71%60.39%61.22% 59.01%
61.86%
Chart 3Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's Enjoy-
ment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice Increased af-ter Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondentsParents of children ages 4-6Families participating in summer reading for the first time
*
My child's enjoyment of read-ing increased
My child's reading skills increased
My child's reading by choice increased
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
49.32% 49.13%54.05%
59.28% 57.71%60.39%61.22% 59.01%
61.86%
Chart 3Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's Enjoy-
ment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice Increased af-ter Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondentsParents of children ages 4-6Families participating in summer reading for the first time
My child's enjoyment of read-ing increased
My child's reading skills increased
My child's reading by choice increased
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
49.32% 49.13%54.05%
59.28% 57.71%60.39%61.22% 59.01%
61.86%
Chart 3Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's Enjoy-
ment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice Increased af-ter Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondentsParents of children ages 4-6Families participating in summer reading for the first time
My child's enjoyment of read-ing increased
My child's reading skills increased
My child's reading by choice increased
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
49.32% 49.13%54.05%
59.28% 57.71%60.39%61.22% 59.01%
61.86%
Chart 3Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's Enjoy-
ment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice Increased af-ter Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondentsParents of children ages 4-6Families participating in summer reading for the first time
*
My child's enjoyment of read-ing increased
My child's reading skills increased
My child's reading by choice increased
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
49.32% 49.13%54.05%
59.28% 57.71%60.39%61.22% 59.01%
61.86%
Chart 3Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's Enjoy-
ment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice Increased af-ter Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondentsParents of children ages 4-6Families participating in summer reading for the first time
My child's enjoyment of read-ing increased
My child's reading skills increased
My child's reading by choice increased
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
49.32% 49.13%54.05%
59.28% 57.71%60.39%61.22% 59.01%
61.86%
Chart 3Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's Enjoy-
ment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice Increased af-ter Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondentsParents of children ages 4-6Families participating in summer reading for the first time
Color
My child
's en
joyment
of readin
g inc
reas
ed
My child
's re
ading s
kills
increase
d
My child
's re
ading b
y cho
ice in
creas
ed0%
10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
49% 49% 54%59% 58% 60%61% 59% 62%
The impact of summer reading was particularly pronounced for families participating in the program for the first time and children ages 4-6:
All survey respondents Parents of children ages 4-6 Families participating in summer reading for the first time
My child's enjoyment of read-ing increased
My child's reading skills increased
My child's reading by choice increased
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
49.32% 49.13%54.05%
59.28% 57.71%60.39%61.22% 59.01%
61.86%
Chart 3Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's Enjoy-
ment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice Increased af-ter Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondentsParents of children ages 4-6Families participating in summer reading for the first time
Activity: Chart Critique
Entrepreneurship
Employment
Education
eGovernment
Health & wellness
eCommerce
Civic engagement
Social networking
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
10%
25%
27%
29%
30%
32%
34%
51%
Using technology to stay in touch with family and friends and maintain social networks was the most popular activity on Rock Creek Public Library computers.
The percentages of Stony Brook Public Library computer users accomplishing work-related tasks have increased steadily since 2013.
About half of Boulder Bay Public Library computer users are white, and more than 1 in 4 are Hispanic or Latino.
48%
27%
11%
10%
4%
WhiteHispanic or LatinoBlack or African-AmericanAmerican Indian and Alaska NativeAsian
More than 1 in 4 Boulder Bay Public Library computer users are Hispanic or Latino.
3 DESIGN GUIDELINES1. K.I.S.S.2. Show rather than tell3. Colors and fonts
3 DESIGN GUIDELINES1. K.I.S.S.2. Show rather than tell3. Colors and fonts
3 DESIGN GUIDELINES1. K.I.S.S.2. Show rather than tell3. Colors and fonts
STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and audience
3. Find your story
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share
SUMMER READING SURVEY
My child's enjoyment of reading increased
My child's reading by choice increased
My child's reading skills increased
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
49%
49%
54%
After participating in summer reading...
STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and audience
3. Establish your approach
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share
GOALS AND AUDIENCE
GOALS AND AUDIENCE
Each year, Colorado public libraries offer engaging summer reading programs to encourage children and teens to read for fun and to prevent summer learning loss…
STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and audience
3. Find your story
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share
WHAT’S THE STORY?
My child's enjoyment of reading increased
My child's reading by choice increased
My child's reading skills increased
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
49%
49%
54%
After participating in summer reading...
WHAT’S THE STORY?
Child’s age
Summer reading participation history
Library card
How respondent learned about summer reading Plan to visit
library in fall
WHAT’S THE STORY?
Child’s age
Summer reading participation history Library
card
How respondent learned about summer reading Plan to visit
library in fall
WHAT’S THE STORY?
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
49%
59%
61%
My child’s enjoyment of reading increased
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
49%
59%
59%
My child’s reading skills increased
WHAT’S THE STORY?
WHAT’S THE STORY?
All survey respondents
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
Parents of children ages 4-6
54%
60%
61%
My child’s reading by choice increased
STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and audience
3. Find your story
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share
DESIGN, REFINE, REPURPOSE
Format—print, online, both?
STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and audience
3. Establish your approach
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share
INFOGRAPHIC CREATION SOFTWARE
PowerPoint AdobeIllustrator
Piktochart
INFOGRAPHIC CREATION SOFTWARE
PowerPoint AdobeIllustrator
Piktochart
PIKTOCHART
RESOURCESInfographic Software:Selection Guide
Tips and Inspiration: Librarian Design Share
Stephanie Evergreen
Ann Emery
Flowing Data
Information is Beautiful
Ad/Lib
Storytelling with Data
RESOURCESSoftware Tutorials:Lynda
Creative Live
Icon/Image Sources:IconArchive
openclipart
morgueFile
Pexels
Pixabay
RESOURCESSymbol Font Sources:Modern Pictograms
StateFace
Cittadino
WebHostingHub Glyphs
The Top 15 Free Symbol Fonts
RESOURCESFonts:MyFonts
Adobe Typekit
dafont
Colors/Palettes:ColourLovers
Adobe Color CC
RESOURCESColor Blindness:Compliant Color Use
Chart Selection Guide:Tableau Whitepaper: Which Chart or Graph is Right for You?
ACTION ITEMS
1.Perform a chart dissection2.Take a data inventory3.Think about the stories you
want to tell about your library. Do you have data to tell these stories?
QUESTIONS?
September 30-October 3, 2016Denver, CO
Registration opens January 26, 2016
www.ripl.lrs.org#RIPLeffect
Preconference: Think, Do, Show: Practical Techniques for Analyzing, Using, and Visualizing Data to Improve Practice andDemonstrate Impact
Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
bit.ly/RIPL_PLA
THANK YOU!Linda Hofschire:
Hofschire_L@cde.state.co.us
lrs.org | ripl.lrs.org
Slides and resources are at bit.ly/ALAMW_Data