You have the stats, but do you have the story? Numbers alone can’t capture the heart of library work, but they can be your most powerful tool for advocacy when you know how to make them speak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join ALA New Members Round Table (NMRT) on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM CST, for an engaging dive into the art and science of data storytelling. Whether you are a public librarian justifying a budget to your board, a school librarian demonstrating student growth, or an academic or special librarian highlighting the return on investment (ROI) of your services and collections, the ability to “narrate” data is a career-defining skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NMRT Spring Webinar: “Crafting Impactful Library Stories with Data<\/a>” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Grounded in Kate McDowell’s Critical Data Storytelling for Libraries<\/a>, presenters Emily Zerrenner and Erin Weber move beyond basic reporting to explore how to capture and transform metrics into ethical, compelling narratives. Through “Erin’s Big Beautiful Day of Metrics,” you’ll see how a single day of data can become a narrative powerhouse. Emily will break down the “building blocks” of the process: from identifying data sources and capturing usable data to selecting visualization tools that resonate with stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you are an early-career or veteran librarian, you will leave with a starter toolkit of practical strategies to turn raw data points into stories that powerfully demonstrate the unique value of your library. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Presenter Bios: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Emily Zerrenner is a Research\/Instructional Services Librarian at Salisbury University. As the Research Help Desk coordinator and liaison to various health and science departments, she is constantly seeking innovative ways to tell the library’s story. She is also the creator of the “Email Scarf,” a unique physical data visualization of her inbox. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Erin Weber is a Research\/Instructional Services Librarian at Salisbury University. Serving as the liaison to Biology, Computer Science, and several other STEM fields, Erin also coordinates library communications and social media, specializing in translating complex information for diverse audiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Register Here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You have the stats, but do you have the story? Numbers alone can’t capture the heart of library work, but they can be your most powerful tool for advocacy when you know how to make them speak. Join ALA New Members Round Table … Continue reading