2014 Charleston Library Conference

The data visualization revolution that has changed the way people consume information online, through the mass media, and in print also has relevance for the dissemination of library data. Conveying information graphically can be a great way to advocate for increased funding, shifts in collection development priorities, or other changes to library policies, procedures and collections. A well-planned and aesthetically pleasing infographic does not require extensive graphic design experience, and the results will often find a wider audience than a traditional written report.This session will cover some common tools and strategies for incorporating data visualization into library work and will also touch on some of the benefits, and possible pitfalls, of using infographics to convey information to administration, colleagues, and library patrons. The presenter will outline her experiences transforming reams of data from a collection development project at Westfield State University into orderly, accessible graphics. Attendees will walk away with a list of user-friendly applications and resources to help them begin to explore data visualization on their own.

Flipping the Library utilizes resources the library already purchases and creates to solve a problem every academic library faces. We all have too many classes that require information literacy presentations and too little time to present them to the students that need it. Flipping the Library promotes collaboration between librarians and faculty by using technology to embed information literacy into their courses. I will show how I am using LibGuides, tutorials, Canvas and Camtasia to enable faculty to include information literacy lesson in their course on their terms.I will bring sample handouts I use in class to engage students and demonstrate what information literacy is and how to build these skills. I will conduct a brainstorming session to find out how others are using these technical resources and their ideas to improve this concept.

Publishing, especially self-publishing, is changing with advances in technology including print on demand and electronic publishing. Community-based authors are taking advantage of these advances and are seeking new venues to publish their works. Recently, the focus has been on the innovative libraries that are stepping in to support these publications such as the ones featured at the Preconference. Yet, little is known about these community-based authors themselves. What do authors working outside of traditional publishing know about crafting a quality book and what experience do they bring to the table? What are their plans for marketing their work? What motivates them to write and to seek publication in the first place? This session will report on a series of surveys of publishing-workshop participants carried out at the Woodneath Public Library, part of Kansas City’s Mid-Continent Public Library System. Survey questions address the questions listed above and more. After presenting the findings from these surveys, the presenters will analyze the results, helping ultimately to situate this group of authors and their needs in the current publishing landscape. Throughout the session, audience members will share their ideas by answering online survey questions, and presenters will post the results of the questions in real time as a way of furthering the conversation. Issues such as the role of the library in publishing and the overall quality of self-published works have been known to invite polemics, and the rich reactions of attendees through short polls will add an additional dimension to the content being presented. Besides learning about the motivation, knowledge, and expectations of community-based authors and seeing the reactions of their peers, attendees can also expect to learn about this particular case study: the initiatives of the innovative Woodneath Story Center along with the Woodneath Press.

This poster was also prepared by Heather Lea Moulaison, Assistant Professor at University of Missouri's iSchool, who is unable to attend the conference.