VALA2022 E-Poster Morgan

Unleashing The Power (BI) Of Data

VALA2022 E-Poster

Michelle Morgan
  • Library Resources Analyst
  • Swinburne University of Technology
Anna Rubinowski
  • Datasets Librarian
  • Swinburne University of Technology
Michelle Lesley Allen
  • Acquisitions Coordinator
  • Swinburne University of Technology

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Abstract

In these difficult times, there is a critical need for evidence-based decision-making and to communicate the value of the library to internal and external stakeholders. In order to address this need we were looking for a means to be able to collate our data easily, interrogate it meaningfully, and communicate it effectively. After investigating Google Data Studio, MS PowerBI, and Tableau we decided to use MS PowerBI (Swinburne having a license for MS PowerBI also helped seal the deal).

PowerBI has proven to be a powerful tool but, unlike other power tools, which are often single function like a drill or a sander, Power BI is more akin to a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman as we discovered multiple functions along the way.

In our poster we want to showcase some of the areas where we used PowerBI with great success but also identify some areas requiring further development.

  • Library Services Dashboard – a one-stop shop for a high-level overview of critical information about the use of physical and digital spaces and services to facilitate quick decisions around library closures and the services offered and to communicate value to the greater university community.
  • Library Budget Dashboard – a detailed dashboard collating expenditure data and forecasting of expenditure in foreign currencies based on past trends broken down by CAPEX and OPEX.
  • Resource usage – our favourite thing about PowerBI is the ability to “unpivot” COUNTER report data. COUNTER report data is grouped by title and month but PowerBI allows you to transform the data into a flat table such that you can group by different criteria (like subject area, YoP or OA) or combine multiple years and map trends.
  • Vendor dashboards – detailed overview of resource usage, cost (historical expenditure and cost per use analyses), licence terms and access conditions to demonstrate ROI when evaluating big deals and reviewing subscription renewals, using templates of consistent measures allowing us to produce timely and efficient reporting by simply plugging in the relevant expenditure, licence, and usage data.
  • Trend analyses – benchmarking of usage across vendors by resource type.
  • Pain points – sharp learning curve; access to published reports and dashboards is limited to users with PowerBI licences due to IT policy about publishing publicly; date data in PowerBI can be quite fussy and sometimes requires thinking outside the box; PowerBI loves tables but hates name changes; and setting up the right connection to your data source can require some thinking, finessing, and resourcing that we do not have at the moment.
  • Future goals and dreams – APIs for automated harvesting of usage and financial data.
Biography

Michelle Morgan qualified as a Librarian in 2007 and initially worked in the public library sector. In 2009 she started working at the University of Western Australia in the Information Resources & Access Management department, and, in 2010, she was appointed in the newly created Ebook Librarian role (in addition to roles in budget, institutional repository, and electronic holdings) . In 2014, after 5 years at UWA, Michelle crossed to the vendor side and also moved across to the opposite side of the country to work first with ProQuest and then Innovative Interfaces (III). At the end of 2017 an interesting opportunity arose at Swinburne University of Technology and Michelle secured the new Library Resources Analyst position. In this role Michelle seeks to wrangle and present data in meaningful ways to assist in decision making and to help the library showcase the resources and services they provide.
Michelle doesn’t mind a craft beer.

Anna Rubinowski joined Swinburne University of Technology as Datasets Librarian in 2020 where she manages the evaluation, selection, acquisition, and renewal of the Library’s online resources. She completed her Master of Information Management at RMIT in 2014 and worked previously at Monash University in the role of the Ada Booth Librarian and Collection Librarian. She is the CAUL Content Coordinator for Swinburne University of Technology and is currently one of two CAUL Content Coordinator Representatives on the CAUL Content Procurement Committee. Anna has a keen interest in data analysis and practical evidence on return of investment, and how data visualisation can support demonstrating the value of Library collections and services.

Michelle Allen completed her Bachelor of Information Management at Charles Sturt University in 2015 and works at Swinburne University of Technology Library in the Datasets Acquisitions Team. Mish is passionate about access to quality information and excited about the ways in which technology can support research, learning and teaching. Her role revolves around coordinating journal subscriptions, processing annual renewals, initiating new orders, liaising with vendors and the agent, invoicing, and troubleshooting online access. More recently, Mish has been learning new skills in statistics collection, analysis and visualisation. Previous areas Mish has been a part of include Swinburne’s Aleph and Alma implementation projects, repository service including ERA requirements, copyright service, print serials collection management and loans customer service. Mish’s interests include music performance and she was an original member of Swinburne Library Ukelele Group. Recognition: Winner – ALIA Student Award 2015; Winner – Institute for Information Management Prize 2015; Nominee – Zenith Undergraduate Information Studies Prize.

 

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VALA2018 Session 9 Whitehead

 

 
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Who am I? The evolution of online identity

VALA2018 CONCURRENT SESSION  9
Wednesday 14 February 2018, 11:25 – 11:55

Derek Whitehead

RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology

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Abstract

This paper discusses the nature of online identity over the past twenty years, since Australians began to use the internet extensively in the mid-1990s. It highlights the growing role of Facebook, Google and other social software in providing frameworks for online identity, considers the ways people find this unsatisfactory, and then examines possible future developments. The paper concludes by raising the possibility of libraries playing a role in supporting Australians in the future as they develop their online identities, as libraries did in the beginning through Vicnet and other programs.

 

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VALA2016 Session 3 Parkes

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Anton Proppe
Anton Proppe

For the ‘Common’ good: a centralised approach to university video publishing

VALA2016 CONCURRENT SESSION 3: Publish IT
Tuesday 9 February 2016, 11:25 – 11:55
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2016-proceedings/vala2016-session-3-parkes

Nyssa Parkes, Anton Proppe and Rob Rochester

Swinburne University of Technology, Vic

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Abstract

Increasingly, video and audio resources are being used in the university environment to educate, distribute research findings, and broadcast public lectures and events.  Despite significant advances in technology, creating and distributing open-to-view and open-to-re-use video can be complex. Swinburne Library has established a centralised service called Swinburne Commons that supports staff in the storage, description and distribution of open video and audio content. In reflecting on the establishment of the service, this paper suggests that experience gained from institutional repositories and open publishing endeavours can give libraries an advantage in the distribution of other institutionally-created content, such as digital media.

 

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VALA2016 Session 2 Weatherburn

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Patrick Splawa-Neyman
Patrick Splawa-Neyman
Jaye Weatherburn
Jaye Weatherburn

Data neophytes: first steps into the research data abyss

VALA2016 CONCURRENT SESSION 2: Data Stuff
Tuesday 9 February 2016, 10:50 – 11:20
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2016-proceedings/vala2016-session-2-weatherburn

Patrick Splawa-Neyman

Monash University, Vic

Jaye Weatherburn

Swinburne University of Technology, Vic

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Abstract

This paper explores the roles, functions, and possible definitions of data librarians based on two Australian National Data Service (ANDS) case study projects at Monash University and Swinburne University of Technology. The experiences, challenges, and achievements from these research data management projects are examined by discussing the various factors involved, such as liaison with researcher and organisation stakeholders, and the implementation of technological solutions.

 

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VALA2016 Session 1 Lawrence

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Amanda Lawrence
Amanda Lawrence

Digital curation of public policy resources: discovery, access and management for policy and practice

VALA2016 CONCURRENT SESSION 1: Future Gazing
Tuesday 9 February 2016, 12:00 – 12:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2016-proceedings/vala2016-session-1-lawrence

Amanda Lawrence

Swinburne University of Technology, Vic

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Abstract

Public policy and practice relies on a wide range of resources, including traditional scholarly publications, and those produced directly by organisations, such as reports, discussion papers, briefings, reviews and data sets produced by government, academic centres, non-government organisations (NGOs), think tanks and companies. While heavily used, the collection and curation of digital publications (grey literature) is dispersed, inefficient and inadequate. This paper presents recent research on use, production and collection of policy publications and discusses the approach of Policy Online, a digital library using a variety of tools including crowd-sourcing content, linked data approaches, Digital Object Identifiers and more.

 

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VALA2014 Session 3 Whitehead

All on the ground: there is no cloud

VALA2014 CONCURRENT SESSION 3: Cloud Gazing
Tuesday 4 February 2014, 12:00 – 12:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2014-proceedings/vala2014-session-3-whitehead

Derek Whitehead

Swinburne University of Technology, Vic

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Abstract

The cloud is an information technology metaphor to inspire and frighten us all, but what does it mean? Is there a cloud at all? This presentation looks at how libraries, almost unawares, have taken to the cloud enthusiastically and ahead of the others. The paper looks at the cloud from the vantage points of an IT manager, a copyright officer and a librarian. It traces its development from opportunistic vendor-provided hosting and management of software and content, to the current cloud environment. It considers the clouds we all use. It looks at benefits and problems. And it looks ahead to a cheerfully cloudy future.

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VALA2012 Session 11 Wright

VALA2012 Session 11 Wright

Libraries and licensing: the eFuture will require legal as well as technical skills

VALA2012 CONCURRENT SESSION 11: Digitisation
Thursday 9 February 2012, 11:05 – 11:35
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2012-proceedings/vala2012-session-11-wright

Robin Wright

Swinburne University of Technology, VIC

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Abstract

In the eFuture, interactions between a library and its clients will increasingly be mediated through the terms of commercial licensing agreements, rather than under exceptions in copyright legislation. Libraries will need to manage a shifting web of licensed access and usage rights, controlled by legal, and often also technical, mechanisms, rather than operating under a single rights regime applying to their whole collection. This may require changes to existing library services, based on copyright law. This paper reviews a small selection of licence agreements for the delivery of online or eBook resources by Australian academic libraries and considers some administrative and policy issues that may arise when libraries move from purchasing collections of hard copy monographs to providing licensed access to electronic media.

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VALA2012 Session 10 Reid

VALA2012 Session 10 Reid

Opening up the playground: supporting library staff to learn through play

VALA2012 CONCURRENT SESSION 10: eM-powering Professionals
Thursday 9 February 2012, 10:30 – 11:00
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2012-proceedings/vala2012-session-10-reid

Helen Reid and Kim Tairi

Swinburne University of Technology, Vic

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Thursday, February 09, 2012, 10:30 AM AUSEDT, 25 Minutes 7 Seconds.

Abstract

Technology is the backbone of our libraries. Keeping up with the pace of change in emerging technologies is the challenge. It’s time to reassess how we spread emerging technologies throughout our workplaces. The success of the “Learning 2.0” programs around the world points to informal learning as being the way forward. Staff are increasingly being told to ‘go and play’ with emerging technology. This paper will explore the barriers and enablers of informal learning in libraries. It provides real-life examples of how to overcome barriers and create an environment conducive to spreading emerging technologies.

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VALA2012 Session 1 Parker

VALA2012 Session 1 Parker

What the library did next: strengthening our visibility in research support

VALA2012 CONCURRENT SESSION 1: Academic Research Support
Tuesday 7 February 2012, 11:25 – 11:55
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2012-proceedings/vala2012-session-1-parker

Rebecca Parker

Swinburne University of Technology, Vic

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Tuesday, February 07, 2012, 11:25 AM AUSEDT, 25 Minutes 55 Seconds.
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Abstract

Academic libraries have a long and proud history of supporting teaching and learning in universities. However, there is growing recognition that supporting research in line with their universities’ expectations requires new approaches and different skills from librarians. Many Australian university libraries are now appointing specialised research librarians to take on these challenges. In this paper, we show the scope for libraries to commit to developing new customer-focussed services for researchers that ensure the importance of the academic library to institutional research, while taking into account stakeholder needs and organisational expectations.

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