Today, libraries are under constant pressure to communicate with library policymakers and stakeholders the value of libraries and library services. Understanding how to strategically gather and utilize data are a key component in successful advocacy campaigns. In her book, Say it with Data: A Concise Guide to Making your Case and Getting Results, Priscille Dando explores the process of using data to advocate what libraries are being used for and why libraries are needed.

From the title alone, it is not obvious that Dando’s target audience is school and public librarians. In the preface, Dando asserts that the target audience is “librarians and managers in school and public libraries” (vii). All of the examples included within the chapters and appendixes are specifically aimed at school and public librarians. However, because the majority of Dando’s principles and examples can be easily adapted to any library environment, the book is also relevant to academic librarians who want to learn about incorporating data into advocacy work.

The book is comprised of six chapters and seven appendixes. In the first chapter, Dando describes the “six steps that are essential to a successful advocacy message based on data” (1). Chapter 1 explores the first four steps—determining the needs, articulating the objective(s), identifying the audience(s), and determining what type of evidence to collect. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 explore the fifth step—collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing data. Chapter three discusses the impact of using statistics for advocacy purposes. Chapters 4 and 5 are a detailed discussion of surveys and focus groups as a means of gathering and measuring data. Chapter 6 explores the sixth and final step—presenting the data to the target audience(s).

Chapter 2 seems a bit out of place: it interrupts the “six steps” narrative with a discussion of strategies for effective communication. This is important information that definitely enhances the overall message of Say it with Data, but its placement within the book disrupts the flow of the six essential steps detailed in chapters 1 and 3 through 6.

Librarians with little to no experience in advocating with data that measures and communicates library programs and services will find Say it with Data an interesting and practical read.