Breakout: Citizen Data Navigator: Public Libraries’ Role in Supporting Citizen Data Use

Breakout: Citizen Data Navigator: Public Libraries’ Role in Supporting Citizen Data Use

Starts @ 9:30 am PT  |  10:30 am MT  |  11:30 am CT  |  12:30 pm ET

With many open-data initiatives, public libraries are increasingly expected to play an intermediary role for citizens to have access to data. In this session, academic researchers studying communities’ data needs in conjunction with data initiatives led by public librarians will discuss community members’ data needs and the role of public libraries in serving community with data. The models for public library service design will be presented to foster discussion. Presenters will work with participants to develop strategies to build a community data service with a prototype design.

At the end of this session, participants will be able to

1. Identify the potential role of public librarians in serving community members’ data needs and opportunities for librarians to be involved in data work.
2. Analyze barriers and challenges to designing and implementing the data services at public libraries to serve their communities.
3. Develop common strategies, approaches, and necessary support to build services to meet data needs within libraries and their communities.