Working as a Data Librarian by Eric O. Johnson

Author:Eric O. Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: ABC-CLIO

Visualization Tools

Your patrons will ask for simple tools to help them create data visualizations. Spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, and OpenOffice Charts can each easily create visualizations from tabular (table) data. With tabular data, select a range then click on the charting tools to contrast different ways to visualize the same information.

Statistical packages such as R, Stata, and SPSS have the ability to graph results of calculations. R is a popular language for statistical analysis and has grown to offer many additional routines. Publication quality graphics can be created using R.

Search for “online data visualization tools” to find dozens of possibilities. Tableau, for example, is great at creating interactive data dashboards if you don’t mind sharing your data publicly. There is a free version available.

Search for “JavaScript visualizations” to find D3, Dimple, Dygraphs, Ember Charts, Google Visualization API, gRaphaël, InfoVis, Leaflet, Polymaps, Raphael, Sigma, Springy, and other JavaScript libraries for visualizations on web pages. JavaScript implementations require website design and hosting, but allow for great flexibility in the presentation and integration of data with the rest of the website’s content.

Online tools for infographics include infogram.com, piktochart.com, and visual.ly. These simple tools can be good for undergraduate students making quick visuals to augment reports or presentations. Since this set of resources changes, a search for “online infographics” will provide links. As a librarian helping people visualize data, it can be good to try various sites with some sample data so that you understand what each site is capable of producing and when it should be used.

When several interactive visualizations are gathered together in a single webpage, they are known collectively as a dashboard.

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