But before we proceed further, let me share something with you. I once took a perfectly dreadful class on Management of Information Systems. However, there was one thing from this class that has stuck with me, that is the definition of data vs. information. In other words, if you include in your annual report the number of ILLs you processed last year, that figure will be relatively meaningless to the reader. What you need to do is present information.
Information is processed data, or meaningful data.
Information reveals something that was not previously known. You have to put the numbers in context by comparing them to previous years, or to other firm's figures. For example, I included a chart showing the decline of ILLs in our library over the past 3 years, and attributed that decline to our flat-rate plans with the online services, and the availability of law review articles online. So think about your data, offer enough for a meaningful comparison, and help interpret it for your readers. Then you are presenting information.