Developing Library and Data Storytelling Toolkits: Scenarios and Personas

With the increasing datafication of all aspects of civic life and public resources, libraries will need better data tools in the future to communicate their impact. Based on the development of the interactive Data Storytelling Toolkit for Librarians (DSTL), this paper analyzes the results of a survey of librarians to understand their needs as users of an in-development data storytelling toolkit. This study explores two research questions: (1) What have developers needed to know so far for building this data storytelling toolkit for librarians? (2) What should developers of all kinds of library data apps know based on this survey? Thirty-nine respondents provided insights from a range of different kinds of libraries. Results include user scenarios and user personas that will aid in the development the DSTL and improve future development of related data-focused applications for librarians as users.