1. Indiana GIS Conference
Mapping Out
Our Partnerships: Sharing
Data Resources
Indiana GIS Conference
May 13, 2015
Hello and Welcome to “Mapping out our partnerships: Sharing Data Resources with Community Partners”
My name is Katie Springer. I’m a Government Information Librarian, and I’ve been with the Indiana State Library for eight years, 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 of organizations is your safety net. 1

2. 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 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. 2

3. 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. 3

4. 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, , 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 We have a conservator on staff at the library who helps us preserve historic materials. 4

5. 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.” 5

6. + Examples of requests and consultations
This 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. 6

7. With one of our 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. 7

8. I recently visited our newest Data Center Affiliate, the Economic Development Center of Wayne County, and trained them on the Census Bureau website, Indiana data resources, and accessing other public data resources online.
I'm available to you and your organizations for onsite and online training, all year 'round. Just give me a call or . 8

9. Indiana Data Resources
The Indiana Business Research Center is the State Data Center’s premier partner. We work closely with the IBRC to provide the public with immediate access to federal and state data as it is released to the public.
The organization itself has served Indiana since 1925 and provides economic information needed by Indiana's businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations, as well as data users like us. 9

10. The IBRC maintains the Stats Indiana website, which is the main website we direct the public to.
Here, you can find Indiana information by topic, including population numbers, figures on employment & earnings, and direct access to Census Bureau data for Indiana.
Special features of this site include county-level demographic profiles of all 92 counties, a cost of Living calculator which creates salary comparisons between Indiana communities and metro areas throughout the country, and the Indiana Dashboard: A Summary of Key Economic Indicators which presents key variables from the STATS Indiana databases in graphic form. 10

11. Indiana Data Resources
Hoosiers by the Numbers, from the Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development, strives for accuracy and timeliness in providing data about workforce and employment and developing new products to meet data user demand.
On the left side bar, you’ll find Economic Indicators, Income & Wage data, Occupation data, Unemployment data, and more, for Indiana. You can also view data by Indiana Economic Growth Region and use the new Radius Tools for population data within a selected amount of miles from a center point within the state.
Under the green “Other Resources” bar, you’ll find a link to articles and publications. There, you can select print resources by topic such as Consumer Price Index, Industry Projections, Jobs by Industry, and Race & Ethnicity. 11

12. The Data Center works closely with the Indiana Geographic Information Council.
I’m a member of the Board and I work on the Education Committee.
Right now, we’re working on getting webinars together for Geographic Literacy and GIS 101, which we'll post online for free.
I'm also working with the Geographic Educators Network of Indiana, or GENI, on their Bicentennial Institute this July for educators who want to be involved in a special map project. 12

13. https://twitter.com/INsdc Pinterest http://pinterest.com/insdc/
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
The Data Center Program makes an effort to keep up with social media, too –
We have Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages to visit when you have time. We use these to promote data releases from the Census Bureau and share notices and articles. 13

14. We also maintain an updated alphabetical list called Statistics by Topic, which lets you choose from more than one hundred links to government and non-government resources for Indiana data.
New links include Data.gov - the federal portal to federal and state statistical files, the Kids Count in Indiana database, Bankruptcy statistics and forms, Maternal and Child Health Reports from the Indiana State Department of Health, and more. 14

15. 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
Thank you for your time and hope you enjoyed the conference! 15