Community Data Services for Public Libraries

The course is comprised of 4 one-hour modules designed to introduce public librarians to a model for the provision of data services. The course will be available from July 19 to August 17. Complete the modules any time during that period. However, only during the week of July 19, the five instructors will be available to take questions. Also, there will be a Q&A Panel on Thursday, July 22 at 3pm (Eastern). 

This model was developed in partnership with Ayoung Yoon and Andrea Copeland in the Department of Library and Information Science at IUPUI and five librarians who have implemented each aspect of the model at their respective libraries: Jennifer Ashby and Mary Neuman from the Asotin County Public Library in Clarkston, WA; Cate Burlington from the Providence Public Library in Providence, RI; Nate Burnard from the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN; and Diana Plunkett from the Brooklyn Public Library in Brooklyn, NY. 

There are four modules covering various aspects of data services. Complete one or all the modules. LEUs will be given for each module completed.

• The Creating a Data Culture module explores how public libraries can use community data to better serve their communities. 
• The Programming with Public Data module explores how you can use community data to provide programming that utilizes community data to inform and engage community members in community issues. 
• The Publishing Open Data for Public Libraries and Beyond module explores how public libraries can make accessible local community data sets. 
• The Data Education module explores ways to teach community members how to find, use, and analyze data.