Libraries as catalysts for unveiling more inclusive data in rural areas

Library workers, policymakers, and community organizers, often struggle to find datasets that accurately represent the realities and aspirations of rural communities. To address this data gap in rural communities, we propose co-creating a training program with rural library workers that is based, in part, on the results of a rural libraries data needs assessment that we will conduct as a first step of this project. The training will detail a process for bringing community stakeholders together to determine gaps in existing public datasets, identifying missing voices, and devising strategies to address these gaps. This process, which we define as inclusive data practices, is needed to generate data that better represents communities and facilitates the development of more equitable programs, services, and public policies.