Bibz Analytics User Reference Manual
1. What is Bibz Analytics?
Bibz Analytics is a predictive analytics platform integrated directly into Bibz. It uses historical circulation data and advanced modeling to predict how well new and forthcoming titles are likely to circulate within your library system and at individual branches.
It provides System-level and Branch-level Circulation Ranks that help librarians make more informed purchasing and quantity decisions based on real usage patterns of similar titles within your system and branches.
2. How does Bibz Analytics benefit libraries?
Bibz Analytics helps libraries:
• Improve confidence in selection decisions by using branch circulation trends
• Allocate quantities more precisely by branch
• Reduce over- and under-purchasing
• Align acquisitions with real patron behavior
3. Why use Bibz Analytics?
Traditional collection development tools rely on static profiles (subjects, reviews, demand indicators) and do not incorporate actual circulation performance of similar titles already in the collection.
Bibz Analytics addresses this gap by:
• Analyzing past circulation behavior
• Identifying patterns in “like titles”
• Delivering predictive circulation insight directly within the Bibz selection workflow
This allows librarians to move beyond “onesize-fits-all” purchasing and tailor decisions by branch and patron interests
4. What is a Circulation Rank?
A Circulation Rank is a predictive score that estimates how well a title is expected to circulate when it is added to the collection. This rank is also known as a Release Rank.
• Higher rank = higher predicted circulation potential
• Lower rank = lower predicted circulation potential
Ranks are represented on a 10-point scale from 0.0 to 10.0. As with any 10-point scale, 1-4 is considered low; 5-7 is considered medium; and 8-10 is considered high.
Ranks are calculated:
• At the Topic Group/Branch Level
• At the System Level (median of all eligible branch ranks)
A Topic Group is defined as the First and Second Level of the title’s primary BISAC. For example, a title with a primary BISAC of ‘FICTION / Romance /Clean & Wholesome’ would be in Topic Group ‘FICTION / Romance’.
5. Where do I see Circulation Ranks?
Circulation Ranks are displayed throughout Bibz:
• On all title views (Brief, Expanded, and Title Detail)
• On search results and title lists
• Within Grid templates
• In Branch Rank flyouts and Related Content displays
No additional tools or workflows are required.
6. What do System Rank and Branch Rank mean?
System Rank
• Represents the median circulation rank across eligible branches
• Helps identify titles with strong overall system-wide potential
• Can be sorted, filtered, and searched in Bibz
Branch Rank
• Reflects predicted circulation potential for a title within a specific Topic Group and branch
• Accounts for that branch’s collection size, circulation patterns, and the rate titles are added to the collection
• Enables more precise quantity allocation by branch
Clicking on the System Rank opens the Branch Rank list. Within the grid display, the branch ranks are automatically displayed.
7. Why does a title show “N/A” or “NR” instead of a rank?
N/A
- Title is not available for sale, or - Title does not have a Primary BISAC in Bibz NR (Not Ranked)
- Title is a Not Yet Published (NYP) with a publication date more than 6 months in the future
8. What is the Branch Rank list?
When you click on a System Rank:
• A flyout displays all eligible branches
• Branches are listed in descending rank order
• The list can be re-sorted by branch name or rank
Includes only branches with:
• At least 12 months of circulation history
• At least 3,000 titles in the collection
Clicking on the magnifying glass opens the Related Content List
9. What is Related Content?
Related Content shows titles from your library’s collection that had similar circulation patterns to the title being viewed. It provides evidence supporting the predicted rank by answering:
“How have similar titles actually performed in our branch collection?”
Related Content can be accessed by:
• Clicking the magnifying glass in the Branch Rank list
• Clicking the Branch Rank within a Grid template
If a branch:
• Has a small collection, or
• Does not own titles within the same topic group, Related Content will be drawn from other branches within the system.
The green and blue visual indicators within the rankings identify the location of related titles. Green denotes titles held within the same branch, while blue represents titles held at other branches within the system. The intensity of the green and blue shading reflects the relative similarity of each title to the target title.
10. How is Related Content selected?
Related Content is chosen based on:
• Similarity to the target title (topic group, author, series, format, descriptor, language, etc.)
• Branch relevance (same branch, when possible, other branches when needed)
• Performance proximity (rank within ±3 points)
• Date the title was added to the branch collection
Selection rules vary by classification:
• Fiction prioritizes author and series
• Adult Non-Fiction prioritizes BISAC Level 1 when topic groups are small
• All selections prioritize language and topic relevance
11. Why might there be no Related Content?
You may see a message indicating no Related Content when:
• The topic group is very small, and
• The library’s collection does not contain sufficiently similar titles
This is most common in narrow Adult Non-Fiction topic groups.
12. How can I use System Rank in my workflow?
System Rank can be used to:
• Sort title lists to prioritize high-potential titles
• Search by, or filter search results to focus on top-ranked titles
• Combined with other Bibz search criteria for targeted selection
This allows librarians to quickly identify and act on the most promising titles.
13. How often are ranks updated?
• Circulation Ranks and Related Content are updated weekly
• Updates reflect the most recent circulation transactions and trends
14. Where does the data come from?
Bibz Analytics combines:
• Brodart title metadata, over 15 attributes including: BISAC, contributors, series, format, descriptors
• Your Library’s Holding and Circulation data collected by Library IQ: branch, barcode, checkout activity
Brodart has a partnership with LibraryIQ to do the data extraction from your ILS. During the on-boarding process LibraryIQ will gather the following information:
• ILS provider information
• IP address and port
• Database login and password (read only access)
• Branch location codes
• Branch physical collection size,
• Branch circulation for past 12 months (including renewals)
• Collection codes,
• Shelving locations
• Item types
• Circulation periods
LibraryIQ data mapping is designed to provide holdings information and transaction information, not program information, customer information or budget information.
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