Using the

2010 U.S. Census

To Promote Teen Services inLibraries

Created for YALSA’s Project Visualize (Emerging Leaders 2011 Cohort) by Monique Delatte Starkey.

WHAT?

• What Is the Census?• In 1787, U.S. Census mandated by

constitutional convention.• Since 1790, the U.S. Census takes place every

decade.• Often the singular data source for less sizeable

regions, including neighborhoods.

WHY?

• Why Should My Community Participate?• Participation is required.• Census workers lifetime confidentiality oath.• Information of individuals kept confidential for

72 years.• State & federal monies allocated by need.

Underreporting less financial support.

WHAT?

• Uses Composite System of Stratification:• Civil status: Alaska Native; American Indian • Color: black; white• Hispanic ethnicity – Spanish-speaking country of origination

• Nationality– Chinese, Filipino, +7 more, described as race:

Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native Hawaiian

HOW?• How Can Census Data Benefit Advocates for Teen Library

Services?Census figures can prove that what you experience everyday at your library is verifiable. Whether you are arguing that:– Your city's teen population is higher than the national

average, or – There are an unusually large number of single parent

homes, or – The number of unemployed is especially high.

The Census can provide the information that you need to create a cohesive, convincing argument for your library as being worthy of support.

WHY?• Why Use Census Data?• Determining what is unique about your

community will help to develop strong arguments &/or grant boilerplates. –Note: Boilerplates are prewritten paragraphs

or documents to be popped into grant applications (to save time).• Boilerplates are then tweaked to match the tone

& requirements of each funder/application.

HOW?• How Census Data Are Used:• Allocating funding for the impoverished.• Developing services for disabled persons.• Determining boundaries for schools & voting

districts.• Planning services to assist children & adults

with less developed English writing &/or speaking skills.

• Allocating $400+ billion per year to states.

HOW?

• How Census Data Are Used:• Planning government services & budgets.• Creating intelligent maps for the private &

public sector.• Establishing estimates of displaced persons.• Creating programs to aid Native Americans.• Developing outreach plans.• Library Lagniappe: Aiding genealogical

research.

WHAT?• Most useful info for library support purposes:

• Families Served Whose Income Is Sub-Poverty Level: Useful for convincing grantors,

library friends, &/or politicians that need exists.

• Households Speaking a Language besides English at Home: Useful in proving that a diverse population benefits from library services. Many grantors are interested

in/require this information.

Census in Schools

• Helpful Tools!•Info for kids•Lesson plans•Cool facts•MAPS! (Large PDFs)

Census in Schools

FactFinder

• Select Census, Survey• Select Data File, Year, Table Type• Select Geography• Select Data Item, Table

FactFinder• http://factfinder2.census.gov• Improved Functionality

Type Zip Code into Geography Box

Searching Tips

• R Refine results

Search within topic

Additional search selections

Locating Table Info

Table/Age Info

Select Modify Table• Options: – Change view/delivery format – Bookmark– Download

Downloadable Data

• .csv• Excel• PDF

Powerful Visuals Prove Your Point

Great Graphics!

Quick Census Searching

Google Search Results

• TTT

Google advanced search is an

even easier way to search the

U.S. Census!

Changing 1 Letter (“Teens” to “Teen”) Alters Results

• Re

Researchers, statisticians, scientists, & others analyze census results.

Fun Fact for ALA NOLA• Census Director Robert M. Groves grew up in

the Big Easy & graduated in NOLA’s De La Salle High School class of ‘66 (with Monique’s dad.)