Visualizing Library Outreach and Partnerships using ArcGIS & Story Maps

Abstract

Currently, the Universities at Shady Grove, Priddy Library website only contains a short piece written on the library’s history found in the “About the Library” tab. It explains the library’s history since 2007, focuses on the green aspects of Building III (where the library is located), and mentions the library’s partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools. The many avenues that the library has participated in outreach and developed partnerships in the community are not covered through this approach. This dilemma led to the development of a project to present the library’s history in a new way: using an interactive timeline that invites the stakeholders and the public to learn more about the partnerships and outreach of the library that exist throughout its history. Utilizing ArcGIS & Story Maps, the project is modeled after an existing historical timeline and consists of pictures, maps, limited text, subheadings, and interactive features that allow the user to move easily across the timeline.

This presentation will discuss the need for qualitative representations to narrate library value, the factors leading up to the idea to visualize the Priddy Library’s outreach and partnerships data, why ArcGIS & Story Maps was utilized and a brief look at the interactive visualization that was created. Attendees will leave with a novel approach for visualizing their libraries’ partnerships, outreach and impact on their communities.