> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://civic-switchboard.gitbook.io/guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://civic-switchboard.gitbook.io/guide/library-roles/showing-importance-civic-data.md).

# Showing the importance of civic data

**What's the need?**

* Many people aren't aware of what civic data is, how it can be used, and how it is relevant to them.

**Why the library?**  

* The library supports broad and diverse audiences, many of whom may not be included in conventional discussions around data.
* Libraries are physical spaces for sharing activities, projects, and stories from the broader community

**What you can do:**

* Promote, through storytelling and case studies, projects that use civic data
* Host data art installations, speaker series, data book clubs

**Inspiration:**

* Pittsburgh, PA: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh [Civic Data Zine Camp](http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2017/09/28/civic-data-zine-camp/)
* St. Paul, MN: [Data Party](https://sppl.org/data-party/)
* Ottawa, ON: [Open Data Ottawa Book Club](https://opendataottawa.tumblr.com/post/97848763391/open-data-book-club)
* Charlotte, SC: [Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library Book Club](https://plancharlotte.org/story/matthew-desmond-evicted-charlotte-nc-book-club)

**Resources you can use:**

* Tess Wilson, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: [Civic Data Field Guide](https://github.com/civic-switchboard/guide/raw/master/toolkit/Civic%20Data%20Field%20Guide.png) flyer from Civic Data Zine Camp
* St. Paul Public Library, [Open Data Guide](https://d4804za1f1gw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/07/08111351/open_saint_paul_guide.pdf)


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