Library data labs: using an agile approach to develop library analytics in UK higher education
| Pages | 5-15 |
| Date | 08 January 2018 |
| Published date | 08 January 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-05-2017-0035 |
| Author | Siobhán Burke,Ross MacIntyre,Graham Stone |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services |
Library data labs: using an agile
approach to develop library
analytics in UK higher education
Siobhán Burke,Ross MacIntyre and Graham Stone
Jisc, Manchester, UK
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the Jisc and Higher Education Statistics
Agency (HESA) Library Data Labs project and its outputs. This collaboration involved bringing together
cross-institutional library teams to produce proof of concept data-visualised dashboards using library
analyticsdata that could be made available to others via the Heidi Plusservice.
Design/methodology/approach –The teams used an agile approach, which adapted the agile
methodologyfor non-technical and disparate team members. Thekey agile elements were followed, including
the Scrum approach, whereby teams had a product owner, several development team members, a data
wrangler and a scrum master. Many of the dashboardstook inspiration from some of the earlier Jisc work on
library analytics.
Findings –A wide varietyof proof of concept dashboards were createdaddressing a range of library issues.
These fell intotwo main categories for the cross-institutional teams, namely,comparing the Society of College,
National and University Libraries (SCONUL) annual statistics results against the National Student Survey
(NSS) data and collectionmanagement and analysis.
Research limitations/implications –Some of the HESA data were potentiallysensitive. In effect, this
created a walled garden as some of the data were not designedfor sharing. Furthermore, the data that the Jisc
team used were restricted by publisher agreements, meaning that specific institutions’usage could not be
identifiedto others.
Originality/value –The paper provides insight into the Library Data Labs project and discusses a
number of implicationsfrom the outcomes of the project. These are now being investigated by HESA, Jisc and
individualinstitutions.
Keywords Academic libraries, Analytics, Business intelligence, Undergraduate students,
Library usage, Student attainment, Visualizations
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Library analytics can be described as:
[...] transactional data on catalogue searches, items check-outs, log-ins to online resources and
services, swipes through the entrance gates; manually collected statistics on space usage, student
satisfaction, [and] external visitors to the library (Showers, 2015a, p. 26).
These data are used to drive decisions and servicesin a number of areas in the library such
as collection management,demonstrating value and impact and meeting user requirements.
In the UK, Jisc has been involved in this area since the launch of the Jisc Activity Data
programme in 2011 (Jisc, 2011). A number of different initiatives have followed, the latest,
The authors would like to thank David Chaplin, Paul Meehan and Lee Baylis for their input in
writing this article and the libraries that took part in the Library Data Labs project.
Library data
labs
5
Received26 May 2017
Revised20 August 2017
Accepted18 October 2017
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.119 No. 1/2, 2018
pp. 5-15
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-05-2017-0035
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