Katrice Stewart (FL)

Katrice Stewart has been the State Data Coordinator for Florida for nearly two years. During that time, she has made important and valuable changes in the way data is collected and reported helping to ensure accurate data through a more streamlined process. She also serves as the State Library Administrative Agency representative.

Although not from a library background, Katrice does have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting, as well as a Master’s of Business Administration. Not yet having a library degree has proven to be a benefit on many occasions by allowing Katrice to see the operation of the library as a business, which it technically is. The varying perspective provides insight relating to the importance of capturing some data elements at the most granular level while others are sufficient at a more 30,000 foot level. Additionally, Katrice is able to offer insight regarding the clarity of definitions regarding the intent versus the letter of the definition.

Being able to accurately and effectively tell the libraries’ stories through data is vital to their survival. Not only is it important to present valid data but it is also very necessary to be able to translate this data to relevant outcomes that all can understand. Katrice understands the importance of the work libraries do and is committed to working with others to help to accurately and promptly convey the value of not only Florida’s public libraries but also libraries on a national level.

Kathy Sheppard (SC)

I am the Data Analysis Coordinator at the South Carolina State Library. I have been a consultant at SCSL since 2006 as part of a team providing information, training and technical assistance to librarians statewide, and have served as South Carolina’s SDC since 2008.

I have worked in public, government, and business libraries around the country, primarily in Southern California. My role in every work situation has included collecting, interpreting and reporting data.

My responsibilities as SDC are, like yours, administering the annual survey (in Bibliostat), training librarians in the survey process and interpreting definitions, and responding to requests for reports and analysis of the data from the field and within the agency. A new assignment for me will be the collection of summer reading statistics through the Evanced Summer Reader product.

SC library directors have learned that data can drive their operations, and they increasingly want to understand what the numbers really mean and how they can be used. I enjoy working in this arena and would be honored to serve on the LSWG to strengthen these efforts at the national level.

Jamie McCanless (WI)

Jamie McCanless has been the Wisconsin SDC and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Library Data and Finance Coordinator since February 2013. For the four-plus years beforehand, he provided substantial LibPAS, data, and documentation support for the PLS to the Public Library Development team. After 29 years of technical communications positions in business and public sectors, Jamie is equally comfortable working with technical and non-technical staff and conveying a variety of information from one type of audience to the other.

In conjunction with supporting the PLS in Wisconsin, Jamie collects, edits, and analyzes statewide library data, develops and manages online resources, calculates and coordinates distribution of state aid to regional public library systems, provides expert assistance in the evaluation of library and regional library services, and provides guidance in the evaluation of public library system operations, services, and financial operations. As Jamie continues to integrate related data collections, he is promoting the value of incorporating data available from the U.S. Census Bureau and IMLS into library directors’ own communication with their boards, communities, and SLA.