Intro to visual presentation of data

1. Data Visualization
for the Rest of Us: A
Beginner’s Guide
Linda Hofschire
Library Research Service, Colorado State Library
www.lrs.org | @LRS_CO | @lindahofschire

2. SCHOOL LIBRARY IMPACT STUDIES

6. What do jelly beans
have to do with
museum visits?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jEnD_GH97o

7. Stories are how numbers talk to people.
-Thomas Davenport
By visualizing information, we turn it into a
landscape that you can explore with your
eyes, a sort of information map. And when
you’re lost in information, an information
map is kind of useful.
―David McCandless
Numbers have an important story
to tell. They rely on you to give
them a clear and convincing voice.
―Stephen Few

8. The Data Visualization Continuum
Excel chart/
number art in a
report or
presentation
Complex infographic
that includes a variety
of visual elements

11. The Data Visualization Continuum
Excel chart/
number art in a
report or
presentation
Complex infographic
that includes a variety
of visual elements
Where are you on the continuum?

12. 4 simple tweaks to make numbers
and charts more accessible

13. 1. PUT NUMBERS IN CONTEXT

14. Source: Data is Beautiful/Reddit
2. CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE CHART

15. 2. CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE CHART

16. 3. SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A
FOCAL POINT

17. 3. SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A
FOCAL POINT
Image credit: Stephanie Evergreen

18. 3. SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A
FOCAL POINT
Image credit: Stephanie Evergreen

19. 4. DON’T MAKE PEOPLE WORK TOO
HARD TO FIND INFORMATION
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
<10k 10k-24,999 25k-99,999 100k-499,999 500k+
PercentageofLibraries
Population Group
Percentage of U.S. Public Libraries with Text, Chat, and
Email Reference, 2014
Text Chat Email

20. 4. DON’T MAKE PEOPLE WORK TOO
HARD TO FIND INFORMATION
2%
11% 14%
21%
67%
9%
26% 28%
43%
100%
25% 26%
48%
75%
100%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
<10k 10k-24,999 25k-99,999 100k-499,999 500k+
PercentageofLibraries
Population Group
Percentage of U.S. Public Libraries with Text, Chat, and
Email Reference, 2014
Text Chat Email

21. CHART DISSECTION

22. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time

23. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
*

24. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time

25. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time

26. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
*

27. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time

28. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
Color

29. 49% 49%
54%
59%
58%
60%61%
59%
62%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
My child's enjoyment of
reading increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by
choice increased
The impact of summer reading was particularly pronounced for families
participating in the program for the first time and children ages 4-6:
All survey respondents Parents of children ages 4-6 Families participating in summer
reading for the first time

30. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time

31. Activity: Chart Critique

33. 10%
25%
27%
29%
30%
32%
34%
51%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Entrepreneurship
Employment
Education
eGovernment
Health & wellness
eCommerce
Civic engagement
Social networking
Using technology to stay in touch with family and friends and maintain
social networks was the most popular activity on Rock Creek Public
Library computers.

35. The percentages of Stony Brook Public Library computer users accomplishing
work-related tasks have increased steadily since 2013.

37. About half of Boulder Bay Public Library computer users are white,
and more than 1 in 4 are Hispanic or Latino.

38. 48%
27%
11%
10%
4%
White
Hispanic or Latino
Black or African-American
American Indian and Alaska
Native
Asian
More than 1 in 4 Boulder Bay Public Library computer users are
Hispanic or Latino.

39. 3 DESIGN GUIDELINES
1. K.I.S.S.
2. Show rather than tell
3. Colors and fonts

43. 3 DESIGN GUIDELINES
1. K.I.S.S.
2. Show rather than tell
3. Colors and fonts

45. 3 DESIGN GUIDELINES
1. K.I.S.S.
2. Show rather than tell
3. Colors and fonts

48. STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and
audience
3. Find your story
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share

49. SUMMER READING SURVEY
49%
49%
54%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
My child's reading skills increased
After participating in summer reading...

50. STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and
audience
3. Establish your approach
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share

51. GOALS AND AUDIENCE

52. GOALS AND AUDIENCE
Each year, Colorado public libraries offer engaging
summer reading programs to encourage children
and teens to read for fun and to prevent summer
learning loss…

53. STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and
audience
3. Find your story
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share

54. WHAT’S THE STORY?
49%
49%
54%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
My child's reading skills increased
After participating in summer reading...

55. WHAT’S THE STORY?
Child’s age
Summer reading
participation
history
Library
card
How respondent
learned about
summer reading Plan to visit
library in fall

56. WHAT’S THE STORY?
Child’s age
Summer reading
participation
history Library
card
How respondent
learned about
summer reading Plan to visit
library in fall

57. WHAT’S THE STORY?
49%
59%
61%
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer
reading for the first time
My child’s enjoyment of reading increased

58. 49%
59%
59%
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer
reading for the first time
My child’s reading skills increased
WHAT’S THE STORY?

59. WHAT’S THE STORY?
54%
60%
61%
All survey respondents
Families participating in summer
reading for the first time
Parents of children ages 4-6
My child’s reading by choice increased

60. STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and
audience
3. Find your story
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share

62. DESIGN, REFINE, REPURPOSE
Format—print, online, both?

68. STEPS FOR SUCCESS
1. Begin with numbers
2. Understand your goals and
audience
3. Establish your approach
4. Design, refine, repurpose
5. Share

72. INFOGRAPHIC CREATION SOFTWARE
PowerPoint
Adobe
Illustrator
Piktochart

75. INFOGRAPHIC CREATION SOFTWARE
PowerPoint
Adobe
Illustrator
Piktochart

76. PIKTOCHART

77. RESOURCES
Infographic Software:
Selection Guide
Tips and Inspiration:
Librarian Design Share
Stephanie Evergreen
Ann Emery
Flowing Data
Information is Beautiful
Ad/Lib
Storytelling with Data

78. RESOURCES
Software Tutorials:
Lynda
Creative Live
Icon/Image Sources:
IconArchive
openclipart
morgueFile
Pexels
Pixabay

79. RESOURCES
Symbol Font Sources:
Modern Pictograms
StateFace
Cittadino
WebHostingHub Glyphs
The Top 15 Free Symbol Fonts

80. RESOURCES
Fonts:
MyFonts
Adobe Typekit
dafont
Colors/Palettes:
ColourLovers
Adobe Color CC

81. RESOURCES
Color Blindness:
Compliant Color Use
Chart Selection Guide:
Tableau Whitepaper: Which Chart or Graph is Right for You?

82. ACTION ITEMS
1.Perform a chart dissection
2.Take a data inventory
3.Think about the stories you
want to tell about your library.
Do you have data to tell these
stories?

83. QUESTIONS?

84. September 30-October 3, 2016
Denver, CO
Registration opens January 26, 2016
www.ripl.lrs.org
#RIPLeffect

85. Preconference:
Think, Do, Show: Practical Techniques for Analyzing, Using,
and Visualizing Data to Improve Practice and
Demonstrate Impact
Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
bit.ly/RIPL_PLA

86. THANK YOU!
Linda Hofschire:
Hofschire_L@cde.state.co.us
lrs.org | ripl.lrs.org
Slides and resources are at
bit.ly/ALAMW_Data