Visualizing the Future is an IMLS National Forum Grant to develop a literacy-based instructional and research agenda for library and information professionals with the aim to create a community of praxis focused on data visualization.
This grant aims to create a diverse community that will advance data visualization instruction and use beyond hands-on, technology-based tutorials toward a nuanced, critical understanding of visualization as a research product and form of expression. As part of this grant we are seeking applications for a cohort of fellows to: carry out research related to visualization, attend two in-person meetings over the next two years, and help in the development and dissemination of a framework for data visualization support in libraries and related institutions.
We’ve had a great time hosting the Viz and Tell series this fall, and we wanted to continue in December with a(n even) more casual event. We’re putting together a social hour/mixer for data librarians (writ broadly), and we’d love to see you there!
Like other organizations, libraries have staff who use visualization to analyze and communicate data about the inner workings of the library. Visualizations for library assessment can build on skills developed in public services around visualization, or they can happen in entirely separate units of the library. Library assessment may mirror assessment in other types of organizations, but it can also be very different – constrained by small budgets, lack of dedicated staff, data privacy concerns, proprietary systems not well designed for library data, etc. This Viz and Tell will be an opportunity for individuals who use visualizations for internal library operations to share tips, concerns, and questions with others doing similar work. Feel free to bring along sample projects if you’d like to share them.
Join us for our first Viz and Tell discussion focusing on instruction hosted by Tess Grynoch and Delores Carlito
We had a wonderful audience for our webinar on September 22. At one point we had 135 attendees participating, and our Q&A session was full of excellent questions and thoughts.