University of Illinois (University of Illinois, School of Information Sciences)

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Information Sciences and the Public Library Association will implement the Data Storytelling Toolkit for Libraries project to provide guidance and tools to help public libraries reach audiences with stories based on data. There is a gap between available data and usable stories for public libraries; this project will address the gap by guiding users to develop skills to translate data into evidence-based stories. Following a previously developed basic model, this project connects data storytelling training with public library data, tools, and infrastructure. Through an iterative research and development process, the project will lead to an online toolkit with two interactive pathways and built-in guidance and story templates. The toolkit will help library staff learn to better tell the story of their impact and value, positioning libraries for success into the future.