The Data-Driven Library: Communicating the value of your school library program to administrators, parents, students, and colleagues
Abstract
This article examines the use of data dashboards as a tool for teacher librarians to advocate for their school library programs. It emphasizes the importance of linking library services to district priorities to secure funding, increase collaboration, and demonstrate the library’s impact on student outcomes. An eight-step process is detailed, including defining objectives, identifying target audiences, collecting and visualizing data, and publishing dashboards using accessible tools like Google Workspace. By crafting coherent, audience-specific narratives, librarians can highlight how their programs support educational goals, improve resource utilization, and foster collaboration. The article concludes that data dashboards provide a sustainable and compelling way for librarians to communicate their value to administrators, faculty, students, and parents- text
- Data visualization
- advocacy
- student impact
- teacher librarianship
- collaboration
- communications
- library data dashboard
- educational technology
- collaborative teaching
- school library programs
- district priorities
- resource usage
- library statistics
- impact reporting
- library data dashboards
- educational technology
- library programming
- district priorities
- student engagement
- impact reporting
- information literacy
- school library budgets
- library advocacy
- Information Literacy