Dead Easy Data Visualization for Libraries
by Sarah Severson
Why use visualization?
Synthesize information to make good decisions.
For example, Seattle Public Library
3 types
- infographic: decoded information, characterized by small amounts of data
- data visualization: by-directional encoding with larger data sets, normally done algorithmically
- data art: characteristic of unidirectional encoding, no labels, no actionable insight, just pretty
Explanatory – Clean, simple
Process:
- Choose your question – may change, so don’t get hung up on it
- Consider your source: Designer + audience + data
Tools:
- infogr.am
- timeline.verite.co
- overview.ap.org (still in beta)
- Tableau Public
Book to read: Designing Data Visualizations by Iliinsky & Steele
New Means to New Ends
by Mike Kastellec
Talking about the NCSU hackerspace focusing on gaming and virtual space.
Created their own cloud for students and faculty.
Providing technology as a core library service.
This presentation had a lot to do with showing off some new spaces, so it’s hard to put into words, but here’s a visual tour of the Hunt Library.
Sharing the Unshareable – Dental Clinic Images in a University Image Repository
by Janet Rothney
Drawers of slides that can only be used within the university (not public).
Have to include experts, because library staff don’t know what’s going on in the images. Also, needed something university-wide to make the repository live longer.
Fedora, Drupal, Islandora, through discovery garden hosted on Amazon and jura(sp?) space.
MeSH wasn’t specific enough, so chose crossopedia (sp?) which is a specialized controlled vocabulary for dentistry. Had path chart for tagging including all options and what went first.
Currently using shared drive in order to restrict use.
Can track patients by number without identifying patient.
ID is required to access the system.
Hope to later share structure and process with other dental organizations and groups.
More notes on the Access 2012 Live Blog.