Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: New Books Network
Host: Jen Hoyer
Guest: Dr. Kate McDowell
Episode: Kate McDowell, "Critical Data Storytelling for Libraries: Crafting Ethical Narratives for Advocacy and Impact" (ALA, 2025)
Date: October 23, 2025

Overview

This episode features an insightful interview with Dr. Kate McDowell, professor at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The conversation centers on her new book, Critical Data Storytelling for Libraries: Crafting Ethical Narratives for Advocacy and Impact. The discussion highlights the growing importance of turning raw data into compelling, ethical narratives for advocacy in today's polarized landscape. Dr. McDowell shares practical frameworks for librarians and information professionals on how to approach data storytelling critically, inclusively, and with impact, particularly in environments where libraries face increasing political and societal challenges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Motivation for the Book

• Kate’s background:

  • Former children's librarian and faculty specializing in storytelling.
  • Transitioned from youth services to developing and teaching data storytelling, collaborating with faculty in data-intensive fields.
  • Consulted for various organizations and wanted to bridge storytelling insights back to libraries.
  • Quote:
    • "I wanted to bring the insights that I've had as a storyteller and then as someone who's been working in the area of data storytelling back home to my home field of libraries and where I started." [03:53]

• Why this book, why now?

  • Libraries have rapidly shifted from being the most trusted public institutions to facing intense public scrutiny and funding challenges.
  • Storytelling in libraries is fundamentally different from business storytelling because libraries focus on trust and community, not sales.
  • There's an urgent need for librarians to "dig deep" into both their data and their history to advocate for libraries' ongoing existence and relevance.
  • Quote:
    • "It's more about trust. It's about buy in. It's about the idea that we are doing something here together about providing information and community spaces and community connections." [06:05]

What Is Critical Data Storytelling?

• Political nature of data storytelling:
  • Information distribution is inherently political due to existing power dynamics.
  • Critiques the business maxim "data is the new oil," emphasizing instead data as a nourishing resource for communities.
  • Metaphor: Kitchen—data is not just for collection or storage; it's for nourishing the institution and its mission. [08:49]
  • "We don't put beans on the shelf to let them go dry and bad in three years… We're not trying to store the food that we eat. We are trying to collect it so we can consume it." [08:49]
• Critical perspective:
  • Draws from critical theory traditions (Frankfurt School, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Data Feminisms).
  • Insists data must always be connected to the humans it represents to avoid dehumanization and bias.
  • "We don't want to be speaking at scale in ways that amplify biases that would dehumanize fundamentally. That's what I mean by critical." [09:42]
• Application:
  • Librarians must actively shape the "continued existence and future" of their institutions, not just join passively.
  • The stakes are tangible: budgets are on the line, and narratives directly impact institutional survival.
  • "To boil it really down to the most brass tax level. It Is do you get your budget for this year or not?" [11:42]

Making Data "Ours": Goals for Advocacy Stories

• Ownership of Data:
  • Data often feels disconnected from the people who collect it; making it "ours" is crucial to advocacy.
  • Example: A Norwegian library had beautiful visualizations but couldn't articulate their story—they lacked ownership over the narrative. [13:14]
• Types of Advocacy Data Stories:
  • Understanding and acting on needs: Use data to identify and address real needs (e.g., technology upgrades).
  • Building on strengths: Use data to tell stories of innovation or unique offerings, not just deficiencies.
  • Avoiding the deficit trap: Focusing solely on need can undermine future storytelling when needs are met—there must be a vision beyond deficit.
  • Quote:
    • "You can't only build the addressing deficit story because if you get your needs met, there's no further place for that story to go." [18:53]

Narrative Forms & Their Impact

• The power of form:
  • Human brains are wired for narrative, but stories need focused structure to be effective.
  • Three key narrative types in data storytelling:
    • Discovery: Stories that guide the audience through data toward new insights or solutions.
      • Example: Staff brainstorming leads to "dig the basement down deeper" during a library renovation. [22:20]
    • Continuity: Stories of resilience and persistence—demonstrating stability and adaptation in changing circumstances.
      • Example: Curbside service innovations during COVID-19, persistent support despite changing usage patterns. [24:15]
    • Transformation: Classic "hero's journey," best applied to patrons' stories, not self-promotion.
      • Example: Community college library supports a family's educational advancement with flexible space, illustrating transformative impact. [27:02]
  • Caution: Misapplying the "hero" narrative can damage trust—libraries aren’t the hero, they enable transformation.
  • "We are transforming lives by our resources, by being flexible… but we need some stories that help show that to people..." [27:50]

Knowing & Reaching Your Audience

• Audience as co-creator:
  • Storytelling is a triangle: storyteller, audience, and story itself; narratives emerge from this interaction.
  • Audiences differ in:
    • Knowledge (what they already know/assume),
    • Demographics (who they are),
    • Attitudes (their feelings towards the topic or institution).
• Crafting stories for divided, even antagonistic audiences:
  • Strategies must account for increasingly polarized and sometimes hostile environments.
  • Avoid adopting adversarial language and focus on evidence of impact, human connection, and professional ethics.
  • Quote:
    • "We have to make sure that we don't take the bait when people are trying to use debate in order to derail an argument altogether." [37:16]
• Example: Supporting job seekers means tailoring narratives to library boards, funders, and patrons—each needs a resonant story. [34:47]

Storytelling Against Library Misinformation

• Misinformation tactics are not new:
  • Example: A mayor inappropriately manipulates data and attempts to silence a director, underscoring the long history of political challenges. [41:11]
• Counter-strategies:
  • Remember and draw strength from professional ethics—prioritize information access and democratic values.
  • Strategic relationship-building (making eye contact, small talk) even in hostile rooms can preserve future positive outcomes.
  • When overwhelmed by misinformation, keep focus on evidence and impact, and avoid feeding into adversarial frames.
  • "Not all statements of, well, you librarians are all a bunch of [insults] are worth countering with, 'No, we're not…' Don’t repeat their language." [39:16]
• Tone & tactics:
  • Adjust efforts between persuasion and knowing when to avoid fruitless debate.
  • Leverage shared ethics across information professions to strengthen messages.
  • "We have to defend institutions… because we're trying to serve communities." [47:10]

Looking Forward: What’s Next

• Future projects:
  • Plans to write about the development of the Data Storytelling Toolkit, potentially to inspire similar efforts in other professions.
  • Investigating "narrating data" as distinct from data visualization—how stories move beyond academia into broader society.
  • Continuing advocacy, teaching, and research, with a planned short-term pause to refresh after an intense period of public speaking and scholarship. [48:33; 51:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I use that metaphor a Lot like we're digging deeper into our data, we're digging deeper into our history in order to get to this place right now and be able to move forward...” (Kate McDowell, [05:42])
• “We don't want to be speaking at scale in ways that amplify biases that would dehumanize fundamentally. That's what I mean by critical.” (Kate McDowell, [09:42])
• “You can't only build the addressing deficit story because if you get your needs met, there's no further place for that story to go.” (Kate McDowell, [18:53])
• “One story can do one story’s worth of work.” (Kate McDowell, [21:03])
• “Continuity is a story about how you weathered the conflict and what lasted.” (Kate McDowell, [23:28])
• “We have to make sure that we don't take the bait when people are trying to use debate in order to derail an argument altogether.” (Kate McDowell, [37:16])
• “The overwhelm is intentional. So remembering our professional ethics…is a strategic move.” (Kate McDowell, [43:46])
• “Story to me is endlessly fascinating because it combines information and emotion together. And that's where our power lies.” (Kate McDowell, [46:38])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 02:29 | Guest introduction and motivation for writing the book | | 04:47 | Importance of data storytelling for libraries, today’s climate | | 07:35 | Elements and politics of critical data storytelling | | 12:41 | Making data feel like “our” data; goals for advocacy stories | | 20:32 | Narrative forms in data storytelling: discovery, continuity, transformation | | 31:09 | Audience dynamics—how to build more effective narratives | | 40:25 | Confronting and countering library misinformation | | 48:33 | Future projects and closing thoughts |

Tone & Style

Throughout the conversation, Dr. McDowell is candid, passionate, and pragmatic, emphasizing both the ethical imperative and practical tactics needed for librarians to thrive and advocate effectively. Jen Hoyer guides the exchange with curiosity and warmth, drawing out actionable examples from the book and McDowell’s experience.

For further exploration:

• Critical Data Storytelling for Libraries (ALA, 2025)
• Data Storytelling Toolkit (online, under development)
• ALA Editions/Neil Schuman/Webinar (YouTube)
• See also Kate McDowell’s talks and webinars on research translation and narrative methodologies.