Spreadsheets for Librarians: Getting Results with Excel and Google Sheets

Work smarter and save time with the librarian’s guide to the hidden-in-plain-sight secrets of Excel, Sheets, and other types of spreadsheets.

While some librarians have become very skilled at using the full power of Excel and Sheets to turn data into useful and valuable information, for many librarians the relevance of spreadsheets-and how to use them-is not necessarily obvious.

This book demystifies Excel and other spreadsheets. Starting from basic concepts, the book progresses to advanced implementations important to librarians in such areas as collection management, including evaluation and benchmarking; research assessment through the creation of sophisticated bibliometric measures; and library design based on an analysis of patron behavior or the creation of a keyword map of physical collections. Real-life examples highlight a variety of techniques and shortcuts that can be immediately applied to libraries of all kinds.

Spreadsheets for Librarians is a book for the desk, not only the library shelves. No prior knowledge of spreadsheets is needed, and readers can expect to learn skills that will enhance their reputation as information and data professionals.

Illustrates spreadsheet techniques that are immediately applicable in a wide variety of library contexts

Explains the potential of readily available data as a means to enhance individual and institutional performance in the library and information sector

Helps librarians think like data and information specialists

Showcases skills that are portable and independent of more narrowly-focused software packages

Shows how to communicate more effectively with IT specialists