Upcoming Civic Switchboard Institutes -- one in Houston, Texas and one online
Pettit, Kathryn
Passing this along from our friends at University of Pittsburgh leading the Civic Switchboard initiative - please share with your friends at the public and academic libraries in your area. Libraries are the perfect collaborator for promoting community data access and use and we’d love to see more of them get involved.
-Kathy
Dear all,
We have two upcoming Civic Switchboard Institutes -- one in Houston, Texas and one online. I am sharing information below. Please consider applying and sharing in your networks!
Best wishes,
Nora Mattern
University of Pittsburgh
Civic Switchboard Project
Civic Switchboard Institute: Apply to a 2-day Institute on civic data work in libraries
Civic data describes a broad range of information related to community life and the decision-making and policies that affect people and places. It can include not only data produced by governmental organizations, but also non-profits, civic institutions (like libraries!), and other community-based organizations. The Institute of Museum and Library Services-supported Civic Switchboard project focuses on building capacity for libraries and archives to begin or continue civic data work.
Over 2024, we are hosting regional workshops and one online workshop on civic data work in libraries. These Institutes will bring together library workers both interested in exploring civic data work in libraries and currently doing civic data work in libraries. There is no registration cost and travel honoraria ($250 or $500) are available to offset travel expenses associated with participation in Houston.
Whether you are already doing work with civic data or are interested in beginning to discover the ways libraries could participate, this Institute is for you. Join us!
Institute schedule and application links:
- October 17-18, 2024: Houston, TX Institute (Apply here)
- November 7 and 14, 2024: Online Institute (Apply here)
By participating in an Institute, you can:
- Connect with other regional library workers and expand a community of practice focused on libraries and civic data;
- Explore your civic data ecosystem and potential roles for your library;
- Connect with exemplars of library civic data intermediary work by engaging with the work of host sites;
- Discover critical dimensions of data work, including power, social justice, and responsible data practices to mitigate harms.
Please reach out to the Civic Switchboard team (civic-sw...@pitt.edu) if you have any questions or would like to learn more! We would greatly appreciate your assistance sharing this information in your network and encouraging colleagues to apply!
Kathryn Pettit
Senior Fellow
Co-Director, National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership
Pronouns: she/her/hers
U R B A N I N S T I T U T E
Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center
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