CLiC 2016: Data Visualization for the Rest of Us: A Beginner's Guide
1. Data Visualization
for the Rest of Us: A
Beginnerâs Guide
Linda Hofschire
Library Research Service, Colorado State Library
www.lrs.org | @LRS_CO | @lindahofschire
6. Stories are how numbers talk to people.
-Thomas Davenport
By visualizing information, we turn it into a
landscape that you can explore with your
eyes, a sort of information map. And when
youâre lost in information, an information
map is kind of useful.
âDavid McCandless
Numbers have an important story
to tell. They rely on you to give
them a clear and convincing voice.
âStephen Few
7. The Data Visualization Continuum
Excel chart/
number art in a
report or
presentation
Complex infographic
that includes a variety
of visual elements
8.
9.
10. The Data Visualization Continuum
Excel chart/
number art in a
report or
presentation
Complex infographic
that includes a variety
of visual elements
Where are you on the continuum?
16. 3. SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A
FOCAL POINT
Image credit: Stephanie Evergreen
17. 3. SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A
FOCAL POINT
Image credit: Stephanie Evergreen
18. 4. DONâT MAKE PEOPLE WORK TOO
HARD TO FIND INFORMATION
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
<10k 10k-24,999 25k-99,999 100k-499,999 500k+
PercentageofLibraries
Population Group
Percentage of U.S. Public Libraries with Text, Chat, and
Email Reference, 2014
Text Chat Email
19. 4. DONâT MAKE PEOPLE WORK TOO
HARD TO FIND INFORMATION
2%
11% 14%
21%
67%
9%
26% 28%
43%
100%
25% 26%
48%
75%
100%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
<10k 10k-24,999 25k-99,999 100k-499,999 500k+
PercentageofLibraries
Population Group
Percentage of U.S. Public Libraries with Text, Chat, and
Email Reference, 2014
Text Chat Email
21. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
22. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
*
23. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
24. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
25. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
*
26. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
27. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
Color
28. 49% 49%
54%
59%
58%
60%61%
59%
62%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
My child's enjoyment of
reading increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by
choice increased
The impact of summer reading was particularly pronounced for families
participating in the program for the first time and children ages 4-6:
All survey respondents Parents of children ages 4-6 Families participating in summer
reading for the first time
29. 49.32% 49.13%
54.05%
59.28% 57.71%
60.39%61.22%
59.01%
61.86%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
My child's enjoyment of reading
increased
My child's reading skills
increased
My child's reading by choice
increased
Chart 3
Percentages of Survey Respondents Indicating Their Child's
Enjoyment of Reading, Reading Skills, and Reading by Choice
Increased after Participating in Summer Reading
All survey respondents
Parents of children ages 4-6
Families participating in summer reading for the first time
32. 10%
25%
27%
29%
30%
32%
34%
51%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Entrepreneurship
Employment
Education
eGovernment
Health & wellness
eCommerce
Civic engagement
Social networking
Using technology to stay in touch with family and friends and maintain
social networks was the most popular activity on Rock Creek Public
Library computers.
33.
34. The percentages of Stony Brook Public Library computer users accomplishing
work-related tasks have increased steadily since 2013.
35.
36. About half of Boulder Bay Public Library computer users are white,
and more than 1 in 4 are Hispanic or Latino.
57. ACTION ITEMS
1. Perform a chart dissection
2. Take a data inventory
3. Think about the stories you want to
tell about your library. Do you have
the data to tell those stories?
Presenting data visually supports viewer cognition
Graphic elements can reduce overload on working memory by doing some of the thinking for the reader. By visually organizing and emphasizing information, graphic design makes it more accessible for the reader, increasing the capacity to engage with the words and data.
Effective data presentation, where we use graphic visualization to emphasize information, speeds the acquisition of that information and reduces the opportunity for misinterpretation.
Chart example without data labels
Chart example without data labels
or use data that is visual by nature (charts, maps, etc.)
use imagery to illustrate the data, (use imagery in place of traditional charts)
Does your data tell a visual story (use imagery to enhance communicating data that is not visual in nature)