Abstract
Given the rapid growth of data creation, increasing automation and AI, and expanding daily interactions with data, our collective need to increase data literacy is of key importance. However, the literature identifies a data literacy gap highlighting a need for improving data literacy skills in the workplace. This session will share seven proposed business data literacy competencies, demonstrate the competencies’ alignment with the ACRL Framework, and discuss findings from a two-part research study with industry professionals on how data literacy competencies move from classroom to workplace practices. The presenters will share findings from a recent research study, which surveyed over 160 industry professionals about their level of data literacy and in what ways data literacy competencies are reflected in their daily work. Then the presenters will share results from follow-up interviews with 15 survey participants about their educational and workplace experiences on data literacy skill development. These findings demonstrate how the proposed business data literacy competencies move from the undergraduate classroom into the workplace and provide further context and rationale for teaching data literacy instruction side by side with information literacy as a response to help reduce the data literacy gap. This presentation will help librarians contextualize data literacy and workforce development as one of the changing needs for teaching information literacy.
Department
UNH Library
Publication Date
6-2025
Publication Title
ALA Annual, Philadelphia, PA
Recommended Citation
Pothier, Wendy G. and Condon, Patricia, "Librarians and the Data Literacy Ecosystem: Workforce Perspectives on Competencies and Skills Development" (2025). ALA Annual, Philadelphia, PA. 2486.
https://scholars.unh.edu/faculty_pubs/2486