Research Institute for Public Libraries
July 29-August 1, 2018

Overview

In this hands-on, immersive learning experience, 110 participants will gain tools for evaluation, confidence in building research into their activities, and a network of colleagues for future learning and success. Coursework includes:

  • Developing An Evaluation Plan
  • The Logic Model
  • Outcome-Based Evaluation
  • Community Assessment
  • Demographic Data
  • Survey Design and Administration
  • Interviews and Focus Groups
  • Introduction to Excel
  • Online Survey Tools
  • Benchmarking and Metrics
  • Website Analytics
  • Data Use for Strategic Planning, Management, and Communication with Stakeholders
  • Introduction to Data Visualization
  • Data Visualization for Decision-Making
  • Telling the Library Story with Data

And more!

Participants

RIPL participants work in public libraries and are …

interested in getting started using data for savvy and strategic planning.
looking for both inspiration and instruction in a hands-on, participatory environment.
seeking to learn about outcomes and how to measure library impact.
committed to leading their organizations in making data-based decisions.
eager to develop a peer network to support research and evaluation efforts.

Keynotes

Felton Thomas, Jr.

Executive Director of Cleveland Public Library

George Needham

Director, Delaware County (Ohio) District Library

Speakers

Peter Bromberg

Executive Director of the Salt Lake City Public Library

Denise Davis

Strategic Initiatives Manager of Allen County Public Library (IN)

Miranda Doran-Myers

Research Assistant for the Library Research Service

Katie Fox

Research Analyst for the Library Research Service

Lindsay Hanson

Data Analysis Librarian at Sno-Isle Libraries

Dave Hodgins

Data Coordinator and Web Developer, Library Research Service

Linda Hofschire

Director, Library Research Service

Rebecca Jones

Managing Partner, Dysart & Jones Associates

Katina Jones

Statistical Research Analyst at Mid-Continent Public Library

Jamie LaRue

Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association

Zeth Lietzau

Director, Collections, Technology, and Strategy, Denver Public Library

Rochelle Logan

Research Consultant and Trainer

Jane Martel

Senior Project Manager, Arapahoe Library District

Sharon Morris

Director of Library Development, Colorado State Library

Rebecca Teasdale

Senior Evaluation and Research Associate, Garibay Group

Christa Werle

Public Services Project Manager, Sno-Isle Libraries

Program

The 2018 event will take place July 29-August 1.
Day 1
29 Jul 2018
Day 2
30 Jul 2018
Day 3
31 Jul 2018
Day 4
01 Aug 2018

Opening Reception

Includes cash bar

Keynote: Data Driven, Data Informed or Data Inspired: What’s the Difference?

Libraries across our country and the world are transforming themselves from traditional spaces of learning to dynamic places of innovation and creativity. This transition requires not only visionary leadership but a...
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Felton Thomas, Jr.

Orientation

Linda Hofschire
Sharon Morris

The Logic Model: Who’s Logic? Part 1

To put it quite simply, the Logic Model is based on the assumption that IF the library does this, THEN that will occur. IF…THEN. On the face of it, this logic makes perfect sense, and seems...
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Rebecca Jones
Linda Hofschire
Sharon Morris

The Logic Model: Who’s Logic? Part 2

To put it quite simply, the Logic Model is based on the assumption that IF the library does this, THEN that will occur. IF…THEN. On the face of it, this logic makes perfect sense, and seems...
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Rebecca Jones
Linda Hofschire
Sharon Morris

Breakout: Process Maps Demystified: Clues to Finding Problems Within 

Creating a process map is one of the first steps to process improvement. What processes, you ask? Processes such as: the check in and shelving of materials; planning, scheduling and promotion of programs; delivery routes and work of between-branch couriers; acknowledging receipt of patrons’...
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Jane Martel

BREAKOUT: KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY: USING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA TO INFORM PLANNING

National census data is important for understanding demographic trends at various levels (e.g., national, state, regional, town) for library planning. This session is for novices and will review Census and...
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Denise Davis

Breakout: Assessing Community Needs

Excellent library services are grounded in a deep understanding of community needs. In this session, we will introduce approaches for assessing community needs (as well as community assets, interests, and...
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Katina Jones
Jamie LaRue
Rebecca Teasdale

Breakout: Start with the End: A Different Way to Reach Outcome Goals Large & Small

How can we create the most meaningful positive impact for our communities? Libraries large and small are driven by this question. To be of the most service to our communities,...
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Katie Fox

Survey Design and Administration

Surveys are a fundamental tool in a library’s research and evaluation toolbox. In this session, we will explore the purpose of survey research and its strengths and limitations for library...
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Jane Martel
Rebecca Teasdale
Zeth Lietzau

Breakout: Data Librarian Unconference

Do you have a job title such as “Data Analyst,” “Statistics Librarian,” “Data Coordinator,” etc.? Is a central part of your job working with statistics and/or evaluating library services? In...
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Breakout: Making Online Survey Tools Work for You

Online surveys are an efficient and professional way to gather the information necessary to make data-driven decisions for your library. With one tool, you can quickly design, administer, collect responses,...
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Miranda Doran-Myers

Breakout: A Beginner’s Guide to the Art of Excel

Excel speaks to our innate need to arrange things in rows and columns. It is the most commonly used tool in libraries when preparing to analyze numbers from your collections,...
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Denise Davis
Rochelle Logan

BREAKOUT: LISTENING DEEPER: INTERVIEW AND FOCUS GROUP STRATEGIES TO GAIN NEW UNDERSTANDING

Interviews and focus groups provide high touch ways to move past awareness and get to understanding of your audience. After a brief discussion of when interviews or focus groups can...
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Sharon Morris

DATA USE FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS

Public libraries collect a lot of data: circulation numbers, program attendance, user satisfaction, etc. But what can you do with all these statistics? In this session, you will learn ways...
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Katina Jones
Peter Bromberg
Rebecca Jones
Jane Martel
Jamie LaRue
Denise Davis
Zeth Lietzau

Data Visualization for the Rest of Us: A Beginner’s Guide

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to present your library statistics in a way that effectively communicates value. In this session, you’ll learn quick and easy tips for...
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Linda Hofschire

Breakout: “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?” DATA FOR STAKEHOLDERS

Libraries have 4 critical stakeholder groups: Board, Funders (usually the City or local government), Residents (who may vote for funding), Residents who use the Library (Patrons, Members or Customers), Residents...
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Rebecca Jones

Breakout: Strategy & Data:  Seeing Progress (or not) 

Bring your strategic plan to this session!  Presenters will share their experience and lessons learned from utilizing outcomes-based measurement & visualizations to identify community and organizational metrics to evaluate success of...
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Christa Werle
Lindsay Hanson

Breakout: FINDING YOUR HIGH WATER MARK: BENCHMARKING TO SET A COURSE FOR YOUR LIBRARY

Questions we ask when we want to do better: How are we doing? Are we on the leading edge or falling behind? … And how would we know? Benchmarks are...
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Rochelle Logan

TELLING THE LIBRARY STORY

Brain research tells us that there are proven techniques to change people’s minds. It begins with story. This session focuses on three approaches to breaking through to people’s minds and...
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Jamie LaRue

Dinner, Sponsored by Gale

Menu Chorizo Queso Served with Tri-Colored Tortilla Chips, Southwest Caesar—Romaine, Shredded Pepper Jack, Grape Tomatoes, Crispy Tortillas, Black Beans, Corn, Caesar Dressing, Cheese Tortellini with Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce, Wings:...
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Breakout: Web Analytics Zero to Hero

Your website is a gold mine for valuable data about your services and collections and, most importantly, how your users engage with them.  Unfortunately though, for many libraries – big...
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Dave Hodgins
Data CollectionFoundlings

Breakout: It’s People I Tell Ya! Developing a Human-Centered Approach to Inform Service Design and Strategic Planning

The Salt Lake City Library is taking a creative new approach to engaging and understanding the needs, aspirations, and motivations of its patrons and community. Using methodologies and tools from...
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Peter Bromberg

Breakout: Data Visualizations for Decision-Making

As libraries become increasingly data-driven the need for useable data also expands. The process of determining what data is needed to answer a question and translating that into actionable information...
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Lindsay Hanson
Katina Jones

The Sandbox: Playing with Data for Million Dollar Results – Part 1

During this culminating activity, you will have the opportunity to apply everything you’ve learned during the event to a final project.
Zeth Lietzau
Sharon Morris

Finding Partners For Your Data Adventures

Learn about the benefits of partnering with one of our sponsors as you embark on your data adventures. Your group will need information from all of our sponsors to use...
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The Sandbox: Playing with Data for Million Dollar Results – Part 2

During this culminating activity, you will have the opportunity to apply everything you’ve learned during the event to a final project.    

Closing Keynote: WHAT’S NEXT?!

This closing session will help participants distill what they’ve learned at RIPL, share those learnings with their colleagues, and formulate a commitment to implement new behaviors when they return to...
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George Needham

Where

The Emory Conference Center Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia:

1615 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30329

Three nights lodging (July 29, 30, and 31) are included in the institute registration fee. Need to extend your stay? The hotel is offering a special rate of $149/night for 3 days before and after the event, subject to availability. To book additional nights, call 800-933-6679 and mention that you are part of the Research Institute for Public Libraries group.

When

July 29-August 1, 2018.

The event will begin at 5:30 PM on July 29 and end no later than 2:00 PM on August 1.

How

The 2018 event is sold out and the waiting list is full. To receive notifications about future events, please subscribe for updates in the section below.

The early bird institute fee is $1,200, which includes registration, three nights lodging (July 29, 30, and 31), and most meals. After March 1, the fee will increase to $1,350. Payment must be made by credit card.

If you need to cancel your registration, your payment will be refunded (minus a $35 processing fee) if a replacement is found to take your spot. We will maintain a waiting list if the event fills.

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