Indiana’s Data Center Program Sharing the Data Indiana’s Data Center Program Hello and Welcome to “Sharing the Data – Indiana’s Data Center Program” My name is Katie Springer. I’m a Government Information Librarian, and I’ve been with the Indiana State Library for seven years, the last six of them serving as the Coordinator for Indiana’s State Data Center Program. I also sit on the Board of the Indiana Geographic Information Council. The Data Center works closely with IGIC to ensure data users access to good public data. There are plenty of ways for us all to find the data we all search for, and if you’re having trouble finding it – our network acts as your safety net.

+ Mission of State Data Centers + Organization of the SDC/BIDC Program To begin with, from the federal side, the State Data Center Program is a nation-wide cooperative partnership between the U.S. Census Bureau and the states that officially began in 1978. Its mission, from the SDC national handbook, is to provide efficient access to U.S. Census Bureau data and data products, provide training and technical assistance to data users, and to provide a way for the Census Bureau to determine data usability, state and local government data needs, and any other needs of data users. In 1988, the Business and Industry Data Center (or BIDC) portion of the program was added. In addition to the general public, it provides businesses with education and access to Census Bureau data and other statistical resources. The Data Center program is part of a national network of economists, government agencies, educators, community leaders, and other professionals in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the island areas. The Census Bureau’s Data Users Branch in Suitland, MD and the Census Bureau’s six Regional Offices work in partnership with the state Data Center networks in all states.

+ SDC/BIDC in Indiana In Indiana, the lead agency for the state is the Indiana State Library. The legacy of the Indiana program is that it stood as the pilot program for the nation. In 1976, Census Bureau employees created a public office at the State Library where organizations could come to receive data for Indiana directly from the Census Bureau. In 1978, it grew into the national program from right here in Indianapolis. The Data Center at the State Library is the Lead Center for Indiana. We work closely with the Indiana Business Research Center, of IU’s Kelley School of Business, as the state’s Lead Business and Industry Data Center and several other agencies - the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the Indiana Geographic Information Council (IGIC) and The Polis Center at IUPUI. There are currently over 40 Data Center Affiliate organizations in Indiana which include libraries, universities, economic development centers, city and county planning, and other community organizations. All of these makeup a statewide network of people who work together to bring public data to the public. Many of these organizations currently use GIS and GIS applications in their work, but there are many who still struggle with finding the time and resources to build GIS into the services they provide. That is where you and I come in. The GIS community can help provide data and support to many professional and layman data users, simply by being available to answer questions. Through cooperative involvement in organizations like the Indiana Geographic Information Council, we help ensure that everyone has access to the data he or she needs.

+ What do we do? + Who do we help? + How do we do it? So, I may have answered this already, but just what is it that we do? We answer patron requests for information from the Data Center via phone, e-mail, and face-to-face. The person on the other end of the line could be a mayor or councilmember, a state agency or library director, a student, a grant writer, a law firm, or one of us. We provide research assistance and customized data products. We consult with state agencies about the proper usage and interpretation of Census data and other Indiana statistics. We bring in data dissemination specialists from the Census Bureau, and we also customize in house and on site training workshops for any level of data user. We also help data users perform historical statistical research. The Library holds a Data Center collection which not only includes digital information, but information in print, microform, and map format going back to the nation’s first Census in 1790. We have a conservator on staff at the library who helps us preserve historic materials.

+ Examples of requests and consultations Here are some general examples of the kinds of questions we’ve helped answer over the past few years: What is the ranking of the Burmese population of all Indiana counties? I need to update it for our annual report. Where do I find demographic and business information on the area south of Indianapolis toward Mooresville. I’m thinking of moving there. How much ice cream did Indiana produce in 2009? (Our state is among the top nationally.) How many people are in a particular census tract? Where can I view census tract maps? Can you send me a spreadsheet of all Indiana cities with their current populations and the dates when they were founded? Can you map this information? Can you print out the map for me? My grant requires me to describe how many children live at a certain level of poverty in a certain area of northern Indiana – Can you help me? The SDC network also provides university administrators and economic development professionals with customized statistical tools and research. We provide training on site and off site on a variety of topics, from how to use American FactFinder and how to understand the American Community Survey to “how to work with data center affiliates.”

+ Examples of requests and consultations Here is a map of our network of Affiliates. A Data Center affiliate organization agrees to become a contact in their community for demographic data about their geographic area, as well as to act as a liaison to us at the Lead Center at the State Library, so that you can refer data users who need additional assistance. We simply ask that Affiliates agree to provide assistance to data users in locating and using Census Bureau data. It’s as simple as that. For those organizations where it is appropriate, we ask Affiliates to maintain a collection of reference and statistical publications, which we help build with items sent through mail (or available online) from the Census Bureau. The Data Center also holds trainings which Affiliates are welcome to participate in as attendees or as co-presenters. In the past, we’ve held an in-person Affiliate training meeting in Indianapolis, but much of the training now happens throughout the year through presentations in your community and through webinars.

With one of our main Affiliates, The IUPUI Polis Center, we’ve helped promote training on their SAVI system, which stands for Social Assets and Vulnerabilities Indicators. They call this the nation’s largest community information system – it is notable for the availability of neighborhood-level information for 10 counties in central Indiana. The training and the SAVI.org website and data is free and available to the GIS users. We also encourage attendance and help promote their annual Governor's Conference on Service and Nonprofit Capacity Building.

I visited the Thrive Alliance in Columbus last month I visited the Thrive Alliance in Columbus last month. It’s a former area agency on aging which has incorporated fair housing and early childhood education into its mission to cater to the current needs of the Bartholomew County area. Thrive Alliance has been a Data Center Affiliate for several years. It uses Census data to administer its programs and uses us for backup advice on accessing data online. During Census years, these kinds of Affiliates have collaborated with us to help promote the importance of Census data and answering the Census. They use geographic data in their grant applications and often have an intern or two that performs GIS functions for the agency. They would typically request help for staff on training and using GIS applications.

Photos courtesy of www.mymonticello.com and lakeshafer.net On a smaller scale, the Monticello-Union Township Public Library, a new Data Center Affiliate, invited us to their library to hold a training session for its staff so they would be prepared to answer statistical questions about Indiana. The public library in Monticello acts as its community learning center and a point of distribution for public information. This kind of Affiliate might benefit from training offered to the public like “What is GIS and how is it applicable in my life?” or “Please explain how my GPS works?” Photos courtesy of www.mymonticello.com and lakeshafer.net

The State Data Center’s website on the State Library’s webpage includes a list of all Affiliates with contact information. If you are interested in partnering with us or one of the Affiliates on a project or program, you can contact these organizations directly or contact me. http://www.in.gov/library/2409.htm

Coordinator and Librarian, State Data Center Program Katie Springer Coordinator and Librarian, State Data Center Program Indiana State Library 315 West Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-232-3732 kspringer@library.in.gov Thank you for your time and enjoy the conference!