Toolkit

Welcome to the WPLC Data Use Toolkit Public libraries collect and interact with data every day, from circulation statistics to community demographics. Learning how to use that data effectively can help libraries better understand their communities and demonstrate their impact. This toolkit is laid out in a progressive order, but feel free to move around…

This section provides additional references, definitions, and support resources for librarians who want to deepen their understanding of data use in public libraries. It includes a glossary of common data terms, research relevant to Wisconsin libraries, recommended readings, and contacts for further assistance.

This section introduces more advanced tools and techniques for public libraries looking to move beyond basic reporting and visualization. It highlights software to design interactive dashboards, mapping, predictive analytics, and linking library data with community datasets to gain deep insights and inform long-term planning. 

Dashboards turn complex datasets into visual summaries helping you spot trends, compare libraries, and make data-driven decisions. Many Wisconsin dashboards use data from the Wisconsin Public Library Annual Report see Local Sources) and some offer pre-built data visualizations so you can explore data without needing advanced analysis skills. You were trained to be a librarian, not a data analyst, after all!

Data becomes most powerful when it helps tell a clear story about your library’s impact. This section explores how to turn data into compelling narratives, visuals, and comparisons that help communicate value to stakeholders and communities.

Before diving into specific datasets or tools, it’s helpful to review principles of good research habits for data confidence. The following sections introduce key concepts that will help you work with data more effectively and confidently!

Data Audit Workbook, Internal Data Workflow Template, Visualization Checklist, Dashboard Exploration Activity

As outlined in the Sections Data to Story, Local Sources, and National Sources of this toolkit, there are many resources available that include existing data that might be beneficial in answering questions and telling data-driven stories. Sometimes the data we need hasn’t been gathered yet, though! This is where novel data and information gathering at the local level comes into play.

Public libraries collect and interact with data every day, from circulation statistics to community demographics. Learning how to use that data effectively can help libraries better understand their communities and demonstrate their impact. This toolkit is meant to help you: find useful library and community data understand how you can interpret and access publicly available…