Library heroes – Protecting Library Data in These Scurrilous Times

I have a few library heroes.  These friends and colleagues have done the awesome work of saving (and analyzing) library aggregated data that proves our library work is extremely valuable in addition to allowing us to make data-driven decisions tied to community needs and socio-emotional intelligence.  Many of these folks were there at the inception (or made historic and strong contributions) of the field of library data. These folks were often both sides of coin people – some in government and some in independent roles in academia or consulting.  All are passionate, talented, intelligent, critical thinkers.  I’ve met and interacted with most of them.

I am NOT being Chicken Little as I watch the potential for mass destruction of datasets and research reports related to library work in the USA.  It is happening and the checks and balances and barriers are being changde and destroyed.  In the past, when NCLIS was dissolved (by President GW Bush in 2007-8), its data were harvested and protected (but that was a planned closure instead of a digital torch fire by heathens).

My consulting work vitally depends on having data to make comparisons, learn, and make recommendations.  Everyone in the field needs these data.

These are the datasets that have been harvested and protected in multiple non-government sites (and reviewed and updated in the current context of threats to their existence).  These include public, academic, and school library data and more.

• IMLS
• NCES
• NCLIS
• ARL
• ACRL
• PLA
• LRS.org
• And more . . .

Recently, there have been vital activities in the invisible, quiet circle of these folks, beavering away at harvesting library data and reports to protect the library record.  This is god’s work, and these folks are library saints.

Here is my incomplete list of data heroes.

• Robert (Bob) Molyneux, MLIS, PhD, (Dr. Data)
• Keith Curry Lance, PhD
• Joe Matthews, PhD
• The late Ross Todd, PhD
• Martha Kyrillodou, MLS, MEd, PhD
• Ken Haycock, MLS, PhD
• R, David Lankes, MLS, PhD
• Lee Rainie, MA, MA, formerly with The Pew Internet and American Life Project and now Director, Imagining the Digital Future Center, Elon University
• The amazing team at Counting Opinions led by Carl Thompson, CEO.

A few next generation folks have started to make names for themselves in the library data field and are doing important work.

• The team at ITHAKA
• The team at EveryLibrary
• Kimberley Silk, MLS
• The team at JISC
• The academic library teams at ACRL and ARL
• The ALA data projects and advocacy groups including the Wahington office.
• Historic teams at NCLIS
• The teams at NCES, IMLS, as well as some State agencies, etc.
• The great teams at the Ontario Ministry of Culture
• Public Library Teams at CULC, ULC, and PLA
• The Canadian teams at Bridge Project, Valuing Public Libraries, Ontario Library Services, OLA, etc.
• More great work at IFLA, OCLC, and other international groups.

Lordy, the trouble with praising folks by name is that I might forget someone who is also important, inspirational, and a library saint. Please share them in the comments and I’ll add them to the list.