The City of Little Rock, in partnership with Central Arkansas Library System, will host Open Data Day Events throughout the month of March and into early April, where residents can learn how to use the City’s open data portal to find the data that’s important to them. 

The Data Days at CALS will be held on Saturdays:

• March 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at Adolphine Fletcher Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Drive. RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/94017856941

• March 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. at John Gould Fletcher Library, 823 North Buchanan Street. RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/94022713467
• March 28 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Dee Brown Library, 6325 Baseline Road.
  RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/94023750569
• April 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Roosevelt Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle.
  RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/94024522879

“We’re excited to partner with the city to host Open Data Days at multiple library locations,” said Mark Christ, CALS Head of Adult Programming. “Providing equal access to information is the foundation of the public library, so we welcome the opportunity to invite the community into our spaces to learn about what resources are available to them and how technology can be used in various aspects of their lives.”

Little Rock Open Data Day is now in its third year. The partnership with CALS is a natural fit for the observance that seeks to raise awareness of how data can shape policy decisions that impact residents’ quality of life and will help the City educate more residents about the data available. For example:

• The number of potholes in an area
• The frequency and type of code violations for different parts of the city
• What planning permits have been issued
• Police activity in any City neighborhood
• Business licenses issued

Residents, college and high school students, as well as members of the media are invited to learn how to use the City of Little Rock’s Open Data, Citizen Connect and Mapping Application sites through hands-on learning activities including data scavenger hunts.

“The partnership with CALS this year is a natural fit as Open Data Day is about sharing information and resources and what better place to do that than in our local libraries,”said Melissa Bridges, the City’s Performance and Innovation Coordinator. “We encourage those interested in attending to bring their Wi-Fi enabled laptops and tablets to get the most out of this hands-on learning experience.”

International Open Data Day is an annual celebration where groups from around the world create local events on the day to show the benefits of open data and encourage its use in government, business and civil society.

ABOUT CALS:
The Central Arkansas Library System includes 15 branch libraries located in Little Rock, Perryville, and throughout Pulaski County. CALS has the largest research collection in central Arkansas. Most of its more than one million items may be reserved online and picked up at any branch that is convenient to the patron. Library Square, the library system’s downtown Little Rock campus, includes the Main Library, as well as the Ron Robinson Theater, the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, and the Bookstore at Library Square.