Data Visualization and Rapid Analytics: Applying Tableau Desktop to Support Library Decision-Making

Abstract

Data visualization offers librarians the ability to better manage, explore and present information collected by various individuals throughout a library organization. This article discusses The Ohio State University Libraries experiments with Tableau, a sophisticated data-visualization and rapid analytics software. Tableau allows librarians to blend and leverage data collected from a number of disparate sources, including transaction logs, Google Analytics, and e-resource usage reports. The article provides context for incorporating data-visualization into the OSU Libraries assessment program and shares examples of visualizations created for two data-analysis projects. The benefits of blending and simultaneously viewing visualizations of data from multiple sources are articulated and explored. The article concludes with a short discussion of potential future projects for visualizing library data using Tableau Desktop.