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
3:30 pm-5:30 pm
5:30 pm-6:00 pm
Silverbell Pavilion
Opening Reception
Includes cash bar
6:00 pm-6:15 pm
Silverbell Pavilion
6:15 pm-7:00 pm
Silverbell Pavilion
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... Read More
Felton Thomas, Jr.
6:30 am-8:00 am
Dining Room
Orientation
Linda Hofschire
Sharon Morris
Embarking on Your Data Adventure
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... Read More
Rebecca Jones
Linda Hofschire
Sharon Morris
10:15 am-10:30 am
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... Read More
Rebecca Jones
Linda Hofschire
Sharon Morris
11:45 am-12:45 pm
Dining Room
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’... Read More
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... Read More
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... Read More
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,... Read More
Katie Fox
2:15 pm-2:45 pm
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... Read More
Jane Martel
Rebecca Teasdale
Zeth Lietzau
6:30 pm-8:00 pm
Dining Room
6:30 am-8:00 am
Dining Room
Application Activity: The Cabbage Toss
Linda Hofschire
8:30 am-10:00 am
Basswood
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... Read More
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,... Read More
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,... Read More
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... Read More
Sharon Morris
10:00 am-10:15 am
10:15 am-11:45 am
Lullwater Ballroom
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... Read More
Katina Jones
Peter Bromberg
Rebecca Jones
Jane Martel
Jamie LaRue
Denise Davis
Zeth Lietzau
11:45 am-12:45 pm
Dining Room
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... Read More
Linda Hofschire
1:45 pm-2:00 pm
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... Read More
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... Read More
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... Read More
Rochelle Logan
3:30 pm-4:00 pm
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... Read More
Jamie LaRue
6:00 pm-9:00 pm
Wisteria Lanes
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:... Read More
6:30 am-8:00 am
Dining Room
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... Read More
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... Read More
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... Read More
Lindsay Hanson
Katina Jones
9:30 am-9:45 am
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
10:30 am-11:00 am
Breakout Rooms
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... Read More
11:00 am-12:00 pm
Lullwater Ballroom
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.
12:00 pm-12:45 pm
Lullwater Ballroom
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... Read More
George Needham
1:30 pm-2:00 pm
Lullwater Ballroom
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.
Sponsorship
Interested in being a sponsor? Please contact Amanda Jacobs Foust
Subscribe for updates
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