Become a Data-Informed Library with Benchmark
eLearning
Webinar
91´«Ã½
features interactive data visualizations that allow libraries to easily compare themselves to peers in areas such as library programs, services, and operations. In this free webinar, you will learn how Benchmark can support your library in everyday decision-making.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Benchmark’s interactive and user-friendly data dashboards and reporting tools for public library subscribers. These tools make it easy to compare your library’s data to peer and national reference points, using data sourced from PLA annual surveys, the IMLS Public Libraries Survey, and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. PLA staff and member leaders will share examples of how libraries can use the data to unlock insights about performance, demonstrate value, and increase community impact.
Benchmark offers both free and subscription levels of access. This webinar will highlight the exclusive features available to subscribers. More information about Benchmark is available on the PLA website.
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this free webinar, participants will be able to:
- Use Benchmark to help with planning, decision-making, and advocacy;
- Know what benchmarking is and how to make effective peer comparisons;
- Use the Benchmark tool’s data and interactive features; and
- Understand how other libraries have used Benchmark to support their goals.
Who Should Attend
This free webinar is relevant to public library directors, administrators, and managers responsible for data collection and analysis. However, staff from any level within their organizations are welcome to attend to learn more about Benchmark
Panelists
Jerianne Thompson is director of the Tualatin Public Library, part of the Washington County Cooperative Library Services in Oregon. She has worked in public libraries for more than twenty years and serves as co-chair of PLA’s Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment Advisory Group.
Heidi Fendrick is a library consultant and serves as the state data coordinator at the Utah State Library, where she uses her extensive experience in designing and implementing data-driven initiatives that enhance library services statewide. Heidi teaches graduate-level courses in library and information science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, emphasizing data librarianship and assessment practices. She is also the chair of the Utah Library Association’s Assessment Round Table, getting to foster collaboration and best practices among librarians across Utah.
Katina Jones is the program manager for evaluation and assessment at PLA. She supports Project Outcome, Benchmark, PLA's annual topical surveys, and other data and evaluation work. Katina started her library career working for five years as the state data coordinator at the Missouri State Library, followed by nearly nine years as the data analyst at one of that state's large suburban public libraries.
Accommodations
This live webinar will be captioned in English (United States). Zoom desktop client or mobile app is required to access captions.
Attendees using screen readers are advised to turn off speech prior to joining the Zoom event because PLA webinars make extensive use of chat functionality. Attendees who find chat distracting may wish to disable it in the Zoom event, as PLA moderators will verbally highlight important topics raised in chat and chat transcripts will be provided post-webinar.
If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your participation in this webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) at least two weeks prior to the webinar. Without prior notification of need, we may not be able to provide appropriate accommodations for the live event.
Tech Requirements
This webinar will be presented using the Zoom platform. Please review Zoom technical requirements and support information, and test your connection.
Once you've joined the webinar, there are two ways to connect your audio: via computer (VoIP) or via telephone. No microphone is required. PLA works with its webinar platform provider to assure the highest quality audio is being delivered to attendees. However, variables over which PLA has no control—such as the speed of your Internet connection or traffic on your local network—can affect the end quality of the webinar audio delivered by your computer. Each webinar’s audio is also available by telephone via a toll number, so we recommend you have access to a long-distance enabled phone as a backup in case you experience audio issues with VoIP. If you do encounter any problems during the webinar, you will receive a link to its archived recording within a week of the live event and can review anything you missed.
Contact
This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½).
Questions about this webinar? Please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).