Better Library Data
Announcing Better Library Data – a short-course for this fall!
Let’s use this RIPL program (12 Months to Better Library Data) as our framework and support each other in doing small data projects fall 2026. Our goals are:
- Build data confidence
- Improve library data
- Get more library data projects done
We will offer this opportunity to MnPALS people first and then others in Minnesota if we haven’t reached the maximum of 30 people. It is free for MnPALS members and $100/person for others.
Led by Johnna Horton and Jill Holman, who have previously created these MnPALS short courses:
- Data Literacy Intensive for Librarians 2022
- Advocate for your Library with Effective Data Storytelling 2023
At each Zoom session we will discuss what was most useful from the RIPL webinars and support each other in working on our projects. Then the final session will be discussion of the project presentation videos. The course will run 8/28/26-11/20/26.
We will use D2L to house the short course and communicate before and after our Zoom sessions. You should expect to spend a couple hours/week on your project. Since fall term is a busy time, you are encouraged to review the RIPL materials ahead of time. (They are already freely available – start as soon as you can!)
We anticipate that participants will have a range of experience. If you are a beginner with library data, you can get things set up well from the start. If you are experienced with library data, you can improve what you are doing. Each person is expected to be engaged in the work and supporting each other. There will be several opportunities for project feedback and revision so you can complete your small data project in November.
We are accepting applications for Better Library Data now! (The deadline is 4/24/26 and you will hear back in early May.)
