Equitable Data Visualization Cohort

The Equitable Data Visualization cohort will be led by Alice Feng, Data Visualization Designer and Developer. As a cohort member, you will:

  • gain skills and tools to create effective data visualizations (for example, infographics, presentation slides, reports, etc.) that are equitable and inclusive;
  • develop knowledge in applying an equity lens to visual communications of data;
  • practice designing a visualization that presents data equitably; and
  • connect with public library workers around the state engaged in similar work.

If your job responsibilities include working with quantitative data (for example, output data such as circulation and visits, demographic data, survey data, etc.) and/or conducting research/evaluation about internal or public facing topics in your library, then the Equitable Data Visualization cohort would be a good fit for you.

Overview

The deadline to apply for the Equitable Data Visualization cohort is October 4, 2024 at 5:00 pm. To be eligible to participate in the cohort, you must work in a California public library. If you are accepted to the cohort, you will be expected to commit to the following activities:

  • Participation in an in-person, one-day kickoff workshop in Sacramento, California on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 (stipends will be provided to cover travel costs including airfare, ground transportation, mileage, lodging, and meals) — this activity is required of all cohort members.
  • Ten 90-minute online sessions, meeting approximately every other week between December 2024 and April 2025 (please make your best effort to participate in these sessions live; however, recordings will be available):
    • Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    • Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    • Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
    • Thursday, January 23, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    • Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
    • Thursday, February 20, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    • Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
    • Thursday, March 20, 2025, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
    • Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    • Thursday, April 24, 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Approximately three hours of offline, independent work per month between December and April.
  • Completion of a data visualization project prior to the culminating workshop in May. Your data visualization could be an infographic, dashboard, presentation slides, report, or other format of your choice on a topic relevant to your work.
  • Participation in an in-person, one-day culminating workshop on May 6, 2025 (stipends will be provided to cover travel costs including airfare, ground transportation, mileage, lodging, and meals). The location of this workshop will be announced after the cohort has formed.

Multiple applications from a single library system are permitted. Up to 30 cohort spots are available. Should demand exceed space available, we will prioritize the following factors when selecting cohort members:

  • Maximizing the number of library systems that participate
  • Applicants from libraries with lower Local Income per Capita

In the application, you will be asked to provide a brief paragraph (maximum of 200 words) describing why you want to participate in the cohort learning experience. Your response will be evaluated based on the following characteristics (maximum of 25 points):

  • Enthusiasm in participating (5 points)
  • Interest in creating equitable and inclusive data visualizations (10 points)
  • Commitment to accessing and using information from and about all community members, especially those not currently engaged in the library (10 points)

Cohort members will be selected based on their paragraph scores as well as the priority factors listed above (maximizing the number of library systems that participate and applicants from libraries with lower Local Income Per Capita).

Application Process

To be considered for a cohort spot, you must submit an application.

Note: in the online application, you cannot save your responses and return to them at a later time to continue working. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you preview the cohort application, prepare your answers in a separate document, and then copy and paste this information when you submit your application.

Cohort applications are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, September 27, 2024. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status by October 11, 2024.

Questions? Please contact Linda Hofschire, Community-Centered Libraries Project Manager, at linda@ljh-consulting.net.

This project is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.