Collecting data about library program participants

Activities Data Gems 💠
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Hi everyone,

I’ve been thinking about fun ways and tangible ways to collect data about people participating in library programs. Some of the data that people often collect is number of people and how old they are!

Here’s one idea:
Participants can add a paper clip, of their color choice (this could be mood or something else), and put it next to their age range. If there’s more than 1 person in that range, you can link the paper clips and it becomes a histogram!

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Other ideas I had include:

  • a vibe check (have specific colors represent specific moods, and people can hang a paper clip or charm to it)
  • attaching a name or something (3D printed maybe?) to the paper clip to represent a specific person!
  • A way to track number of times a participant comes to a library program, and maybe set up small rewards for it!

I’m curious about some of the post-program surveys you collect!

  • What questions do you ask?
  • How could you make it fun for people to complete the survey?
  • Does it need to feel anonymous?
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I think a fun way to collect data would be to do a collaborative art piece. For example, if you were going with the “vibe check” idea, you could have each participant decorate a scrap of paper to represent how they feel that day and it could be added to a larger collage or something.

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One of the things I would love to know is the grade spread of the teens attending, so I made a little interactive display to put out during my programs. I repurposed an old pencil box so I have easy transport and storage and a coworker is going to bring me in two mason jars that I can label “Yes” and “No” and they can put a pompom into the jar they agree with.

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I am excited to see what the teens say and if they have any feedback.

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