Mapping Out Sites Serving Older Adults
Queens Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Through an analysis of 2010 and 2020 decennial census data, Queens Public Library (QPL) discovered that Queens, NY’s older population is surging. Given this trend, we saw the necessity for a data/map product to help staff better address the needs of older adults in their branch service areas. QPL previously relied on internal datasets and an external source to identify organizations (i.e. social service agencies, facilities for the aging, and senior centers) that serve older adults in Queens. QPL consolidated this information and created an interactive dashboard using ArcGIS Online, visualizing in one place available data on organizations that serve older adults, QPL’s partnerships with the organizations, and the counts and percentages of older adults in each QPL service area. The dashboard allows library managers, program planners, and outreach staff to align spending, programs, and outreach initiatives with the needs of the older population in the Library’s service areas.
Challenge/Opportunity
Queens Public Library (QPL) aimed to a) reduce the need to shift back and forth between different datasets, b) include locations (i.e. social service agencies, senior centers) and categorizations not in our internal lists, and c) see the locations’ proximity to QPL locations. Not all sites from the internal lists had geospatial data, so after that information was sourced, the internal and external lists were consolidated and visualized on the map. After receiving feedback from staff, we also revised the dashboard to include links to the (internal) consolidated dataset and a printable map infographic of the population 65 years and older by QPL service area for staff to easily access.
Key Elements of Innovation
This dashboard consolidates internal and external datasets for Queens Public Library (QPL) staff to find insights about the senior sites and older population near QPL locations.
QPL uses a custom service area layer based on assigned census tracts. This allows QPL to aggregate and analyze census data for demographic and socioeconomic insights. QPL added a map layer of the population over 65 by QPL service area. With the layers of senior sites and population over 65, QPL staff can see the senior sites in their service area along with the count (or percentage) of older adults near a specific QPL location.
With the dashboard, QPL staff can find answers to questions such as:
- How many older adults are in my service area?
- What types of senior sites are in my service area?
- Where is ‘X’ senior site in Queens and in which service area?
- Who is my service area’s elected government official if I want to speak with or invite them to discuss the needs of the service area’s older population?
Achieved Outcomes
Previously, data was stored in various internal and external datasets. Having the data in different places caused issues with understanding the full landscape of senior services near Queens Public Library (QPL) locations. This dashboard allows data to be consolidated, housed, and mapped in one place, improving QPL staff’s ability to evaluate their existing initiatives and plan for new ones. The map infographic acts as a quick, printable reference for staff to assess their efforts and view the same data in two different ways (by regional map and by sorted table of QPL service areas).
This data/map product helps QPL library managers adjust their book budgets to build relevant collections for their populations, allows program planners to develop older adult programs where they are most needed, and enables frontline staff members to understand the age demographics of their neighborhood to best serve and advise their older QPL patrons.
