Telling the Story of a Collection with Visualizations: A Case Study. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wissel, Kathryn M.; DeLuca, Lisa
• Is Part Of: Collection management. Volume 43:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 264
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Collection promotion -- data visualization -- digital storytelling -- library technologies -- Tableau Public; Collection management (Libraries) -- Periodicals; 025.205
• DOI: 10.1080/01462679.2018.1524319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-2679

Abstract

Abstract: Patrons and scholars are increasingly likely to first encounter a collection in a digital space rather than a physical one. This article considers how to utilize data visualization in an academic library to promote a unique collection to remote visitors. In order to create awareness of the Valente Italian Library at Seton Hall University, one of the largest Italian collections in the United States, subject librarians considered ways to convey and describe the collection beyond the search box or the discovery filters of the catalog. After considering meaningful data points available in the records data, the authors harvested, cleaned, and mined the data for interesting collection facets. Visualizations were created from the data and the authors explore whether they offer a greater understanding of the collection and aid in telling its story, as well as recreate a sense of browsing for the online visitor.