my semester with Open Data to Open Knowledge

Kayla Hammond Larkin Intern, Boston Open Data

December 13, 2016

Open Data to Open Knowledge

Give ‘em Conventional wisdom in public libraries:

what they want.

Open Data to Open Knowledge

The Boston Open Data team visited six in November and December of 2016.

There are 25 public libraries in Boston.

EGLESTON

MATTAPAN

EAST BOSTONCENTRAL

BRIGHTON

CONNOLLY

Open Data to Open Knowledge

Pop-ups!What do you want to know more about?

PUBLIC SAFETY

TRANSPORTATION

HOUSING

CITY BUDGET

PARKS & RECREATIONLOCAL BUSINESSES

ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY

TRASH & RECYCLING

FOOD

Open Data to Open Knowledge

Open Data to Open Knowledge

Patron profilesSnapshots of lives in the city

B R I G H T O NPublic school teacher with daughter in kindergarten. Interested in school spending.

E G L E S T O N

Retired senior.

Concerned about

gun violence,

low-cost food,

and pedestrian

safety.

C O N N O L L Y

Nanny to toddler.

Interested in

energy & sustainability

and reliable bus

service.

C E N T R A LLongtime Roxbury resident. Uses food stamps. Interested in more free services for people in Boston.

M A T T A P A NRecent immigrant from Jamaica. Interested in affordable housing.

E A S T B O S T O N

Father of three.

Wants to cut

spending on public

safety and increase

spending on

education.

Open Data to Open Knowledge

Lessons learned

Don’t focus too much on defining jargon, and don’t get

tripped up by terminology. Let conversations evolve

naturally.

DON’T OVER-REHEARSE

Residents track the City’s successes and failures closely.

Faith in government can be lost or gained over time.

BOSTONIANS REMEMBER EVERYTHING

The number of people that you meet matters less than how well you

get to know them.

QUALITY OUTWEIGHS QUANTITY

THANK YOU!

C O N T A C TKayla Hammond Larkinkayla.larkin@boston.gov