Why is Data Science a Good Extension Career for Librarians?

As a librarian with a degree in library science, pursuing a second course can enhance your skills, broaden your expertise, and open up new career opportunities.

If you're a librarian looking to expand his or her career, here is a good option for you: data science.

Why Data Science?

Data Management Skills

Data science courses will equip you with skills in data analysis, management, and visualization, which are becoming increasingly important in libraries for handling large datasets and digital collections. These skills enable you to efficiently organize and analyze large volumes of information, making data more accessible and useful to library patrons.

Research Enhancement

Understanding data science can enhance your ability to support researchers and academics in data-driven research. By gaining proficiency in data science, you can assist in developing research methodologies, managing research data, and providing advanced data analytics services. This can make your library an invaluable resource for researchers seeking comprehensive data support.

Decision Making

Improve the library's decision-making processes through data-driven insights. Data science allows librarians to analyze user behavior, track library usage patterns, and measure the impact of various services. These insights can guide strategic planning, resource allocation, and service improvements, leading to a more efficient and responsive library.

Career Advancement

Adding data science to your skill set can significantly enhance your career prospects. With data literacy becoming a crucial skill in many industries, librarians with expertise in data science are well-positioned for roles in data management, information technology, and research support. This interdisciplinary knowledge opens up opportunities beyond traditional library roles, such as data analyst or data manager positions in various sectors.

Recommended Course

Coursera offers a "Data Science Specialization" by Johns Hopkins University, covering essential data science tools and methods. This specialization includes courses on the R programming language, data visualization, and machine learning, providing a comprehensive foundation in data science.

By completing this specialization, you will be well-equipped to apply data science principles to library and information science, enhancing your professional capabilities and broadening your career opportunities.

Embarking on this educational path can transform your role within the library, making you a key player in leveraging data for better library services and user experiences.

5 Books That Make You Better at Getting Things Done

1. The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz This book says energy is more important than time. Weird, right? But it makes sense. The authors say we should work like athletes — focus hard for a bit, then take real breaks to rest and recharge. Instead of running on empty all week, you learn to build routines that give you energy, not drain it. Basically, it’s saying: stop acting like a robot and start acting like a human who takes naps. 2. Getting Things Done by David Allen If your brain feels like a messy desk full of sticky notes, this book is your cleaning guide. David Allen teaches you how to put every task, idea, or reminder somewhere safe — so your mind can finally relax. Once you’ve written everything down, you can actually focus on what’s in front of you instead of wondering what you forgot. It’s for people who want to feel calm, in control, and slightly smug about their tidy to-do lists. 3. The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker Peter Drucker is...

10 Benefits of Becoming a Board Topnotcher in the Philippines

Becoming a board topnotcher in the Philippines is a highly esteemed achievement that can have significant benefits for an individual's professional and personal life. These benefits span across various aspects, including career opportunities, personal growth, and societal impact. 10 Reasons Board Topnotchers are a Big Deal in the Philippines 1. Enhanced Career Opportunities : Achieving topnotcher status in board exams in the Philippines often opens doors to a plethora of career opportunities. Many employers, particularly in competitive fields such as engineering, accountancy, and law, view topnotchers as individuals with exceptional capabilities and a strong work ethic. As a result, topnotchers often receive job offers from prestigious firms, government agencies, and private corporations. Additionally, they are frequently offered higher starting salaries, leadership roles, and opportunities for advanced training and education. 2. Professional Recognition and Credibility : Topnotche...

How Important is Proper Document Control in ISO Accreditation?

If your organization is working toward ISO accreditation—or trying to maintain it—you’ve probably heard the phrase document control more times than you care to count. But before your eyes glaze over, let’s break it down. ISO standards (like ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, or ISO 27001 for information security) are built on the idea of consistency, traceability, and accountability. None of that works without proper documentation. And documentation doesn’t stay proper on its own. It needs structure. That’s where document control comes in. So, how important is it? In short: it's everything. What Is Document Control in the ISO Context? Document control refers to how an organization manages its critical documents—such as procedures, manuals, forms, and records—so that they are: Correct (the latest version) Accessible (to the right people) Secure (from unauthorized changes) Traceable (who approved, changed, or accessed them)...

How to Do Research in Studying and Revision

Why conduct your own research? I have often complained that many students now are spoon-fed, which means the information is available to them, collated and organized, and presented in the most accessible way possible. Then, I realize that I am a librarian, and I myself am responsible for collating, organizing, and making information accessible to users. Does this mean I am spoonfeeding my users? No, I encourage research, but not haphazard research like a simple Google search of one keyword and end up opening just Wikipedia. I promote extensive research, and devoting time on it, even if it's just for one topic. Is conducting research worth it in this day and age?

Simple Way to Ask Library Users to Rate the Library Service

Library users do not always share their thoughts on how the librarian or school can improve their library service. In fact, some won't ever, unless prompted. Soliciting their thoughts using a suggestion box is also not as good a strategy as it is predicted to be. After all, the blank piece of paper near the suggestion box doesn't really guide the user. I also noticed that users would only use the suggestion box if they have a complaint, but not if they just want to go about their business and leave. There must be a more pro-active way to solicit users' opinion. A simple solution would be to offer a short survey to measure how successfully users were able to complete some common activities in the library. This assessment uses the Likert scale, which is typically a five, seven, or nine-point agreement scale used to measure respondents' agreement with various statements. For example, the scale can range from "very unsuccessful" to "very successful."...

Weekly Facebook Reel Content Suggestions (#001): Themed Daily Reels

I've noticed individuals posting reels that feature repetitive activities, so I thought it would be helpful to offer some fresh ideas for those who are looking for inspiration. This is just the beginning, as I plan to share a series of suggestions specifically aimed at enhancing your Facebook reel content. Keep an eye out for more to come. Themes for Facebook Reels With Execution Tips Monday #MotivationMonday Share a personal story or tip that motivates your audience to start the week strong. Talk about how setting small goals can lead to big achievements. Show a clip of you completing a small task and celebrating it. | Tuesday #TravelTuesday Showcase a local spot or hidden gem. Doesn't have to be far, could even be a cool café or park. Visit a local mural and talk about the artist or the message behind it. | Wednesday #WellnessWednesday Share a wellness tip or routine that helps you stay balanced. Demonstrate a 5-minute meditation or b...

3 Ways to Make the Library a Civic Innovation Center

Libraries have always been more than just book-lending places. They’re public trust spaces, open to all, with no pressure to buy, perform, or belong to a certain group. In today’s fast-changing world, we can go one step further: we can make libraries civic innovation centers. That means transforming them into active spaces where citizens work together to solve local problems, grow ideas, and build stronger communities. Here are three simple but powerful ways to do this: 1. Host Community-Led Problem-Solving Events Many cities and towns face common challenges—unemployment, food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, or poor digital access. What’s often missing is a neutral space where people can come together and think creatively about solutions. This is where the library comes in. Libraries can host regular “Civic Hackathons,” “Idea Labs,” or “Solution Circles.” These are not just for tech people. A solution circle, for example, can be as simple as a group of locals, librarians,...

My Writer's Block was Delaying my Epic Story Until I Rewatched Attack on Titans

I was all set. Excited, even. I had a brilliant story brewing in my mind—folklore from my province, no less! I could see my protagonists already, larger than life, practically leaping off the page. Then I sat down to write... and nothing happened. That’s when I realized I had developed the dreaded writer’s block. Oh, the irony—so many ideas, yet not a single word seemed to fit. What was my block, you ask? It boiled down to two surprisingly tricky issues: 1. My protagonists were awesome (naturally), but the villains? Well, I had no idea what drove them. What was their purpose, their motivations? I needed more than just "evil for the sake of evil." It felt like staring at an empty abyss, waiting for my villains to give me something to work with. 2. Then there was the big existential question: how much of me should I put into this story? Every time I thought I had a direction, I hesitated. Is this my story or just fiction? How much of "me" was too much? Suddenly, my o...

Ruby Galvez, RL

Search This Blog