Image
Abstract: "But those numbers aren't used for anything": Convincing library employees to tell the story of their work
Having data and anecdotes are important for library administrators to tell the story and communicate the value of the library to their constituent groups. But librarians and library staff are not always forthcoming with providing this information. This can result in a vicious cycle: administrators don’t think the work is getting done and employees don’t feel that their work is recognized by administrators. The lack of data also prevents meaningful stories from being told about the impact of the amazing work going on in the library. Library administrators looked for ways to break this cycle and to convince employees to see the value in reporting the data generated from the work they are doing. This poster will explore why employees may not see value in collecting and reporting data, why they might be reluctant to share what they collect, and what administrators might try to create a culture of consistent data reporting.