Tuesdays @ APA: Data Mining on Federal Websites John A. Shuler, University at Illinois, Chicago Rana...

Tuesdays @ APA: Data Mining on Federal Websites

John A. Shuler, University at Illinois, ChicagoRana Salzmann, American Planning Association

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 • 5:00 p.m

Discovery, Organization, Knowledge: a guide to planning information

Three paths to discover (and use) planning information from the federal government

Discovery

Understanding the six interdependent spheres of government information resources Proposals Legislation Rules/Regulations Implementation Resources and Revenue Data and Information

Discovery II

The discovery tools www.usa.gov www.google.com/unclesam/ www.data.gov www.opencrs.com thomas.loc.gov www.gpoaccess.gov www.fedstats.gov

Organization

Understand the relationship between the government’s organization structure and the kinds of information sources produced Which public agencies deal with issues of most

interest to planners? How do public agencies share information? How do public agencies share information with the

public?

Organization II

The organization tools The U.S. Government Manual Budget of the United States Government Brose Topics: Your Pathway to Government

Information

Knowledge

Use the collaborative and integrative tools of professional associations, universities, and other groups. Government action demands community reaction

and response Navigating the myriad sources of non-government

information Building a relationship with a library

Knowledge II

Examples of how Knowledge Tools expand our grasp of government policy and programs

www.planetizen.com http://capitolcircle.com/ http://forums.e-democracy.org/

John A. Shuler, Associate Professor

• Bibliographer for Urban Planning and Government Information/Documents Librarian 312.996.2730

alfred@uic.edu

The APA Library & Municipal Info

• Joint Reference Library (1932) @ 1313 E. 60th Street • Shared by…

• International City Management Association• Public Administration Clearing House• American Municipal Association• American Legislators' Association• American Public Welfare Association• Municipal Finance Officers' Association

ASPO became a library supporter @ 1313 in 1938.APA inherited the Merriam Center Library in 1995.

APA Library Resources• Online catalog http://www.planning.org/library/index.htm

APA Library Resources

• Publications Abstracts Database

APA Library Resources

• New Books RSS Feedhttp://www.planning.org/news/rss/

APA Library Resources

• The Planners Bibliography Web Tool • Coming in April 2010!

Planning Information Online (beyond Google)

• Municode.com

• Oregon Sustainable Community Digital Library

• Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington

• Hillsborough County (FL) Planning Commission Library

Resources @ your public or university library

• Reference services • Database access to journals• Federal Depository Library Program resources• Specialized collections

• ex: Transportation Library @ Northwestern• Collections of ordinances and other municipal info

Planning @ your library…

• Planners & librarians can work together• If they don’t exist….

• Create user-friendly guides to zoning ordinances, processes, policies, etc.

• Think about digital initiatives (online portals to citizen resources)

Ask a Librarian!

Make an appointment to use the APA Library. email: library@planning.org phone: 312-786-6354