Priscille Dando, Say it with Data: A Concise Guide to Making Your Case and Getting Results. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2014. 132 pages. ISBN 9780838911945.
This is an excellent introduction to gathering and using statistics and other information to support your library's efforts, whether they are to garner more financial support or are in support of other initiatives. Although not obvious from the title, this book is aimed primarily at school and public librarians. All of the examples that Dando uses to illustrate her points are from school or public libraries. That being said, however, the principles that she describes for gathering, using, and presenting statistics would be applicable in any sort of library.
Say it with Data has six chapters. Topics include: determining need, message, and audience; effective communication; working with statistics; survey techniques; focus group methodology; and how to best present the data that you gather. There are also a number of appendices with checklists for surveys or focus groups, and examples of surveys for specific audiences, such as public library patrons, students, or teachers. The book is well-written and includes both a bibliography and an index.
Even though the book is geared towards public and school libraries, it would also be useful for department heads in larger libraries. I could envision its use in cataloging, acquisitions, systems or other operational departments as they perform assessment and look for ways to effectively present the results. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in assessment and looking for ways to present the results in a meaningful way to their stakeholders, whether they are library administration or others.
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