Python for Information Professionals: How to Design Practical Applications to Capitalize on the Data Explosion is an introduction to the Python programming language for library and information professionals with little or no prior experience. As opposed to the many Python books available today that focus on the language only from a general sense, this book is designed specifically for information professionals who are seeking to advance their career prospects or challenge themselves in new ways by acquiring skills within the rapidly expanding field of Data Science.
In this book, we endeavor to introduce you to the basics of Python, in addition to some advanced concepts, as well as contextualize this learning by presenting relevant examples for the library and information sciences. We have intentionally designed this book so that it begins with simpler concepts and then builds in complexity, such that you will be able to follow along regardless of where you are in your Python learning. This book can be used as a learning resource for beginners, or a ready reference for those looking for a few pointers to improve their coding abilities.
In this introduction to the book, we aim to explore the fundamental aspects of Python, its immense popularity, and the reasons why it is crucial for you to learn and master it. By doing so, we will provide you with a solid foundation for the rest of the book, which will enable you to take your skills to the next level and achieve your goals. It is vital to learn Python, as it is rapidly becoming the de facto language for many industries and applications during the data revolution, with Python programmers being in high demand among large companies as well as information organizations like public and academic libraries. By mastering Python, you will not only acquire a valuable skill set that will benefit you in your current or future career but also gain the ability to create useful tools and applications that can improve your daily life.
Readers of Python for Information Professionals will learn to: