RIPL California
May 25-26, 2021

Overview

Are you trying to determine whether your programs and services are effective? Do you want to learn practical methods for gathering, analyzing, and using data for planning, management, and communicating impact? The Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL) is an immersive, bootcamp-style event for public library staff to learn about a variety of data topics including outcome-based evaluation, community assessment, data visualization, culturally responsive evaluation, developing a culture of evaluation, using data for strategic planning, and more.

RIPL is NOT your typical online conference or webinar. Instead, it features interactive sessions that include application and discussion, and opportunities to form connections with other staff interested in data and evaluation. You will get the most out of this training if you are fully present and able to immerse yourself in the learning experience. The event will include an introductory webinar on May 4, 3:00-4:00 PM (recorded for those who aren’t able to attend it live). There is no other pre-work prior to the live virtual event on May 25-26.

Participants

RIPL participants work in public libraries and are …

interested in 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.

Who

Up to 125 staff working in California public libraries may participate in this event.

When

May 25-26, 2021

8:30 AM-4:00 PM each day

How

Registration is now closed.

Program

Day 1
25 May 2021
Day 2
26 May 2021

Welcome & Orientation

Starts @ 7:30 am PT  |  8:30 am MT  |  9:30 am CT  |  10:30 am ET

Morning Break

Starts @ 8:30 am PT  |  9:30 am MT  |  10:30 am CT  |  11:30 am ET

Breakout: Improving Operations with Data: Exploring Data Utilization Approaches to Support Decision Making

Starts @ 8:45 am PT  |  9:45 am MT  |  10:45 am CT  |  11:45 am ET

Libraries have plenty of data: building use, program attendance, website traffic, database use, etc. They also have access to external data: census, regional planning, education, economic and business development, social...
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Katina Jones
Data collection & analysis

Breakout: Count Your Impact: Getting Started With Outcome-Based Evaluation

Starts @ 8:45 am PT  |  9:45 am MT  |  10:45 am CT  |  11:45 am ET

This session is recommended if you are just getting started with data and evaluation. Your library offers a lot of great programs, resources, and services, but how can you determine...
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Linda Hofschire
Sharon Morris
Data 101Evaluation planning

Breakout: Diagnosing Library Process Problems Using Maps and Metrics

Starts @ 8:45 am PT  |  9:45 am MT  |  10:45 am CT  |  11:45 am ET

You have long suspected that there must be a better way for your processes to work. You are right, and that way is called Lean. Lean is “a way to do more with less – less human...
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Jane Martel
Using data for management, planning, & communication

Breakout: Introduction to GIS (Geographic Information System)

Starts @ 8:45 am PT  |  9:45 am MT  |  10:45 am CT  |  11:45 am ET

In a time when the quantity and diversity of data are expanding at almost unimaginable rates, the ability to learn from and use this flood of information is increasingly valuable....
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Jason Young
Bree Norlander
Community assessment & civic data

Lunch

Starts @ 10:15 am PT  |  11:15 am MT  |  12:15 pm CT  |  1:15 pm ET

Breakout: Discovering the Story of Your Community: How to Conduct a Well-Rounded Community Assessment

Starts @ 11:15 am PT  |  12:15 pm MT  |  1:15 pm CT  |  2:15 pm ET

Public library staff are expected to—and want to—serve their communities. Learning what the community needs is challenging. And how do we define “community” in the first place? This breakout session...
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Lisa Fraser
Community assessment & civic data

Breakout: Another Survey?!: Making Your Next Survey Count

Starts @ 11:15 am PT  |  12:15 pm MT  |  1:15 pm CT  |  2:15 pm ET

Surveys are a fundamental tool in a library’s research and evaluation toolbox, yet many library surveys fall short of their potential for gathering useful, trustworthy information. In this session, we...
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Rebecca Teasdale
Data collection & analysisData 101

Breakout: Let Your Data Speak for You: The Power of Data Visualization

Starts @ 11:15 am PT  |  12:15 pm MT  |  1:15 pm CT  |  2:15 pm ET

Curious about how you can use data visualization at your library? In this session, we will explore the history of data visualization, from historic to modern times, along with close-up...
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Joe Ryan
Using data for management, planning, & communication

Breakout: A Prescription for Achieving Faster, Better, and Cheaper Library Processes

Starts @ 11:15 am PT  |  12:15 pm MT  |  1:15 pm CT  |  2:15 pm ET

Though not required, ideally, participants of this breakout session will have attended the “Diagnosing Library Process Problems Using Maps and Metrics” morning breakout session at 9:45 PT. Attending both sessions gives...
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Jane Martel
Using data for management, planning, & communication

Afternoon Break

Starts @ 12:45 pm PT  |  1:45 pm MT  |  2:45 pm CT  |  3:45 pm ET

General Session: Nothing For Us, Without Us: Getting Started with Community Engagement and Culturally Responsive Evaluation

Starts @ 1:00 pm PT  |  2:00 pm MT  |  3:00 pm CT  |  4:00 pm ET

Public libraries serve increasingly diverse stakeholders, each with unique interests, needs and strengths.  Using the tools from community engagement and culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE), you can help create a...
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LaShaune P. Johnson, PhD

Discovering the Power of Open-Ended Questions Activity

Starts @ 2:15 pm PT  |  3:15 pm MT  |  4:15 pm CT  |  5:15 pm ET

Wrap-Up

Starts @ 2:45 pm PT  |  3:45 pm MT  |  4:45 pm CT  |  5:45 pm ET

Welcome & Application Activity

Starts @ 7:30 am PT  |  8:30 am MT  |  9:30 am CT  |  10:30 am ET

General Session: Meaningful Metrics for Your Organization

Starts @ 8:00 am PT  |  9:00 am MT  |  10:00 am CT  |  11:00 am ET

This session will equip you with both a philosophical framework and the necessary details to ensure that your organization makes the most of its metrics, which are quantitative measures used...
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Jane Martel

Morning Break

Starts @ 9:15 am PT  |  10:15 am MT  |  11:15 am CT  |  12:15 pm ET

Breakout: Setting a Course for your Library: Data Analysis Strategies

Starts @ 9:30 am PT  |  10:30 am MT  |  11:30 am CT  |  12:30 pm ET

This session is recommended if you are just getting started with data and evaluation. In this session, you will learn simple processes for data analysis including how to analyze qualitative...
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Rochelle Logan
Data 101Data collection & analysis

Breakout: Can you hear me now? Data for Stakeholders

Starts @ 9:30 am PT  |  10:30 am MT  |  11:30 am CT  |  12:30 pm ET

Libraries have six 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
Using data for management, planning, & communication

Breakout: Connecting the Dots: Strategic Planning, Implementation and Evaluation in Context

Starts @ 9:30 am PT  |  10:30 am MT  |  11:30 am CT  |  12:30 pm ET

Evaluation is a key component of the strategic planning and implementation process: evaluation reveals whether we are achieving our strategic goals. This session will focus on taking ownership of your...
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Alison Clarke
Kimberly Silk
Using data for management, planning, & communication

Breakout: Listening Deeper: Interview and Focus Group Strategies to Gain New Understanding

Starts @ 9:30 am PT  |  10:30 am MT  |  11:30 am CT  |  12:30 pm ET

Interviews and focus groups offer you ways to move beyond basic responses to gain deeper understanding. After a brief discussion of when interviews or focus groups can be effective methods...
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Sharon Morris
Data collection & analysis

Lunch

Starts @ 11:00 am PT  |  12:00 pm MT  |  1:00 pm CT  |  2:00 pm ET

Unconference

Starts @ 12:00 pm PT  |  1:00 pm MT  |  2:00 pm CT  |  3:00 pm ET

Unlike a traditional conference session, unconference sessions are participant-led. Participants who share common experiences will have the opportunity to set the agenda and determine small group discussion topics. RIPL staff...
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Afternoon Break

Starts @ 1:00 pm PT  |  2:00 pm MT  |  3:00 pm CT  |  4:00 pm ET

General Session: Data Geeks Disperse! Developing a Culture of Evaluation

Starts @ 1:15 pm PT  |  2:15 pm MT  |  3:15 pm CT  |  4:15 pm ET

One of the biggest challenges about an event like RIPL—where you are sharing an immersive learning experience with people who already care about evaluation—is going back to your home organization....
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Lynn Hoffman

Reflection Activity & Wrap-Up

Starts @ 2:30 pm PT  |  3:30 pm MT  |  4:30 pm CT  |  5:30 pm ET

Speakers

Alison Clarke

Coordinator, Performance Measures & Data, Brampton Library

Lisa Fraser

Organizational Performance Project Manager, King County Library System

Lynn Hoffman

Director of Operations, Somerset County Library System

Linda Hofschire

Consultant

LaShaune P. Johnson, PhD

Associate Professor, Creighton University

Rebecca Jones

Managing Partner, Dysart & Jones Associates

Katina Jones

Statistical Research Analyst at Mid-Continent Public Library

Rochelle Logan

Research Consultant and Trainer

Jane Martel

Senior Project Manager, Arapahoe Library District

Sharon Morris

Instructional Designer

Bree Norlander

Data Scientist, Univesrity of Washington

Joe Ryan

Manager, IT Infrastructure and Architecture, EDUCAUSE

Kimberly Silk

Principal Consultant, Brightsail Research

Rebecca Teasdale

Principal, Rebecca Teasdale & Associates

Jason Young

Senior Research Scientist, University of Washington

Sponsors