Breakout: Leveraging Federal Data to Piece Together the Program Planning Puzzle
Starts @ 10:00 am PT | 11:00 am MT | 12:00 pm CT | 1:00 pm ET
Program attendance at libraries has skyrocketed over the last 10 years. We also know that programs are a vital way to engage patrons and the community about a variety of resources.
Planning programs doesn’t have to be an exercise in the dark. This session will provide hands-on guidance about accessing three federal data tools that can be helpful in program planning. We will show you how to access available data sources and download information about: (1) your library and your peers using PLS data and the Search and Compare tool; (2) your community using the American Community Survey; and (3) library programs supported by funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services using the IMLS State Program Report system for the Grants to States program. Finally, we will provide you with a list of other federal data resources to help you put together the pieces of the program planning puzzle.