data Archives | Page 2 of 2 | Gale Blog: Library & Educator News

Using Search Quality Metrics to Fix a Problem Part 2

September 19, 2017

| By Charlie Close, Gale Data Scientist | Most of Gale’s products are built around users searching Gale content. For example, a user might search World History In Context for “Bastille Day” to find articles about the French Revolution. Giving high-quality search results is a big part of taking care of our users. In a previous … Read more

Introducing the New DemographicsNow

July 17, 2017July 17, 2017

A new look and additional functionality are coming to the popular resource that provides small business owners and researchers with actionable demographic, company and residential data. Beginning this fall, users will experience a new, mobile responsive, easy-to-browse interface for DemograhicsNow and DemographicsNow: Business & People Library Edition. The new DemographicsNow and DemographicsNow: Business & People … Read more

Register Today! Driving Decisions with Data Webinar

April 24, 2019June 29, 2017

Is Your Library Measuring Up? How can you ensure your library’s goals and initiatives support households in your community? It can be tricky, but with Analytics On Demand, you can add value to your library’s existing data and unlock key insights about your community. Join us, and American Libraries, July 24th for a free episode … Read more

Gale Grows Digital Archive Program to Better Address Research Needs and Further Support Digital Humanities

May 25, 2016March 29, 2016

Published on March 29, 2016

Digital archives available under new Gale Primary Sources brand!

Gale, a leading provider of library resources and part of Cengage Learning, announced the expansion and rebranding of its digital archive program. The new Gale Primary Sources program will increase both product volume and multicultural content to support new disciplines and research needs in the areas of digital humanities and text and data mining.

“Our multicultural digital archive program is really unprecedented in scale and scope – from the amount of resources we’re developing to the signing of new content partners from different parts of the world, as well as the diversity of the rare and unique content we’re digitizing,” said Paul Gazzolo, senior vice president and general manager for Gale. “This material – much of which has never been made available for research use – coupled with our technology and unique digital tools is helping scholars map the story of humankind.”

Entrepreneurs Lack the Resources Necessary to Start Successful Businesses

January 5, 2016December 2, 2015

Librarians can find themselves in difficult positions when budding entrepreneurs, in search of answers that may determine the fate of their businesses, rush into the library. Steven Assarian, a business librarian at Grand Rapids Public Library, remembers well the day he found himself in such a situation. “An entrepreneur obviously interested in serving tourists came in and asked very specifically whether a particular town was a resort town,” Assarian recalled.

Not only is it Assarian’s job to provide consultation for entrepreneurs in need of business plans, but he’s also responsible for teaching business research techniques to classes of between 10-20 people. The ability to locate and use relevant information during the formation of a startup is a determining factor in whether the business will succeed. The pressure on librarians like Assarian to link entrepreneurs with current and rich data can be great.

“Usually these are people who really need help,” Assarian said. “They just don’t know what’s available or where to begin the process.”

Bringing the Power of Business Analytics to Canadian Libraries

February 23, 2018July 14, 2015

By Tina Creguer

“In God we trust. All others must bring data.”
– W. Edwards Deming, famed statistician, professor, author

Every day, businesses across Canada use sophisticated data analytics to understand, predict, and gain insight into their customers’ behavior. But why should businesses have all the fun? Libraries have goals and missions to accomplish, and they, too need to understand their customers, er, patrons.

Gale now offers powerful new tools for Canadian libraries that will help them gain deep insight into patrons and improve the day-to-day decision-making and strategic planning. By tapping into your library’s existing data and combining it (in a secure environment) with demographic data using Environics’ PRIZM5 lifestyles profiles, Analytics On Demand helps you learn more about patrons, from income and life stages to online behaviors and preferred social media channels.

Analytics On Demand Helps Alabama Library Chart the Path Ahead

March 26, 2018February 3, 2015

Sue DeBrecht is Director of the Emmet O’Neal Library in the municipality of Mountain Brook, a wealthy suburb of Birmingham, Alabama with 20,000 residents. Sue loves information, and Analytics On Demand — a data solution that helps libraries quickly and easily learn more about their users and their communities — provides a wealth of it. Emmet O’Neal turned to Analytics On Demand to gain a more granular view of patrons and potential patrons than other sources of demographic data can provide. “We know where we are now, but we need a better idea of where to focus our attention in the next five years,” says Sue.

The library is tightly involved with its community, and is fortunate to have a healthy budget, loyal donors and volunteers, and a library foundation with a $3 million endowment. Still, directors want to make smart budget decisions, and key insights from Analytics On Demand will inform the library’s programming, strategic planning, and marketing.

Public Libraries Get a Boost with Targeted Marketing and Data Analysis

January 21, 2015

By Kristina Massari

New Analytics On Demand Apps Improve Outreach and Provide Insights to Multi-Branch Systems

Public libraries face challenges demonstrating their value to the communities and stakeholders they serve – just 22% of Americans say they know most or all of the services provided by their public library. To help libraries overcome these barriers, Gale, part of Cengage Learning, has added three new applications to Analytics On Demand, the first affordable big data analytics solution for public libraries. The new apps, Marketing Action (for Patrons and Non-Patrons) and Branch Insights, help libraries deploy targeted direct marketing programs to current and prospective library users, as well as better understand how existing patrons are interacting with individual branches across a system.

Data-Driven Marketing: Know Your Community

February 27, 2018September 2, 2014

By Gerry Sawchuk

It’s impossible to attend a conference or read a library magazine today without hearing about data-driven decision making, big data, and measuring outcomes. Amidst the increasing “noise” around any trending topic, it can be hard to determine what it means for you and what tools are available to help gather and analyze data—here are some details to help you get started.

Do Analytics Really Matter?

“Big data” and “analytics” are buzzwords for good reason. Businesses in other industries have relied heavily on consumer demographics and data analysis for years. Research shows that businesses that leverage data analytics have stronger financial performance, are able to make better decisions more quickly, and are more likely to execute those decisions as intended.

Why does this matter to you? Libraries are not businesses, right? Many libraries are understandably sensitive to being compared to for-profit businesses. Consider for a moment though, that as a library, your products are the content and services you provide, and that your customers are your patrons. Profit aside, libraries have much to gain by leveraging data to retain and grow customers. Quite simply, there is an opportunity to be better positioned to meet the needs of your patrons.