[OPLINLIST] Data Visualization Services for Library Statistics

[Andy Lechlak]

Hi All!

We have tried Tableau and Looker Studio.

Currently we are setup to use Looker Studio<https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/0a611cf2-b4f8-4e20-9222-962285e5d52b>.

The key takeaway for both scenarios is the importance of building reports directly from the raw data to minimize the need for cleaning or reformatting each time you pull data. A colleague of mine has developed Python scripts to automate parts of this process. However, if such tools are not available, it becomes even more critical to design reports around the raw data. Avoid renaming columns, altering column order, or modifying date timestamps—tools like Looker and Tableau can handle these adjustments dynamically.

For example, we have a service that designates the date timestamp as text rather than a proper date field. This misclassification creates challenges when working with the data, but visualization tools are sophisticated enough to allow you as the report builder to adjust column attributes and formats as needed, ensuring seamless analysis.


(You can technically make a copy of our report and update it to use your data. Happy to chat more 🙂 )


Andy Lechlak (he, him, his)
Manager of Design and Analytics
Toledo Lucas County Public Library
Winner of the National Medal for Museum and Library Services
419.259.5252 (office)
Web<http://toledolibrary.org/> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/ToledoLibrary/?fref=ts> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/ToledoLibrary/> | YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/user/tlcplibrary> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/toledo-lucas-county-public-library/>
________________________________
From: OPLINLIST <oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org> on behalf of Jennifer Fording via OPLINLIST <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 11:02 AM
To: Ariel Jacobs <ajacobs at seolibraries.org>
Cc: oplinlist at lists.oplin.org <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] Data Visualization Services for Library Statistics

We do something like this through Canva. I'm not sure if this is what you mean?

Jennifer Fording
Director
Harris-Elmore Public Library
(419) 862-2482  ext. 101
director at harriselmorelibrary.org<mailto:director at harriselmorelibrary.org>
www.harriselmorelibrary.org<http://www.harriselmorelibrary.org>


On Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 10:24 AM Ariel Jacobs via OPLINLIST <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org<mailto:oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>> wrote:
Morning,

I would be interested in this as well. Currently, I present stats through Excel.

Ariel
On 01/21/2025 10:07 AM EST Stephanie Freas via OPLINLIST <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org<mailto:oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>> wrote:


Good morning library people of Ohio,

We're looking to redo how we present our statistics (door counts, programming, circulation, website/social media use, etc) to incorporate a data visualization aspect through a service like Google Looker Studio or Microsoft Power BI. Has anyone else taken steps to get here, and if so, can you share the data visualization service you use as well as any suggestions for a library going through this for the first time?

Thank you,
Stephanie


--

[X]<https://muskingumlibrary.org/>

Stephanie Freas, MLIS

Assistant Director



220 North Fifth Street

Zanesville, Ohio 43701

740.453.0391 Ext. 131

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