Library Newsletter: September 2026

FEATURED POST

Health Happens Here: Libraries Respond to Local Needs

Across the country, public libraries are frontline health resources: cooling centers during extreme heat, telehealth rooms for residents without reliable transportation, food pantries, mental health support spaces, and mobile tech centers for older adults. The common thread isn’t a one-size-fits-all program — it’s data-first design. Libraries are using demographic, health, and access data to identify exactly where the need is greatest before they build. Discover how libraries are turning local data into local impact.

DATA IN ACTION

A Playbook for Library Leaders: Using Local Data to Show Community Impact

This webinar is designed specifically for library leaders and staff looking to strengthen advocacy and decision-making with critical data and mapping tools. Learn how to build a small, repeatable data toolkit that supports advocacy, grant writing, strategic planning, and evidence-based storytelling about library impact.

Watch Now

Mapping Relief: The Library’s Role in Disasters

When disaster strikes, public libraries often transform from places of learning into vital lifelines. During the Los Angeles wildfires, the Topanga Library acted as a shelter and supply station, while seven other L.A. branches provided FEMA assistance services. See how data can help libraries map vulnerability and prepare to serve as trusted hubs before, during, and after a crisis.

CUSTOMER STORY

Cranston Public Library

Cranston Public Library is the busiest public library system in Rhode Island, and has been the state’s highest-circulating library for more than 15 years. Serving approximately 83,000 residents across six branches, the library is deeply embedded in its community and committed to equitable access to information, resources, and services. To back that commitment with data, Cranston has adopted PolicyMap.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

See How California Libraries Are Mapping Community Needs with PolicyMap

Good news for California public libraries: statewide access to PolicyMap is back! As part of an initiative with the California State Library and the Pacific Library Partnership, all California public library staff can request a free account to map community needs, inform strategic planning, and support grant applications with data.

**New Data** New cancer incidence data from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) is now available for select head and neck cancers.

**New Data** New point data displaying the locations of pharmacies enrolled in HRSA’s 340B Drug Pricing program have been uploaded to PolicyMap.

**New Data** CMS Medicare Advantage Enrollment data is now available on PolicyMap.

**New Data** The predominant foreign-born data was updated to the 2020-2024 Census ACS. This category includes several new countries of birth, including Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Georgia, Ivory Coast, Marshall Islands, St Lucia, Tanzania, Togo, and UAE.

BLS Local Area Unemployment (LAU) monthly statistics data has been updated for June 2026 preliminary data and May’s finalized data.

The Cost of College dataset has been fully refreshed and updated to the 2023-2024 school year, now with broader institutional and degree-level coverage.

Medically Underserved Areas from HRSA has been updated to 2026 data.

The National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) point datasets for Four-Year Colleges and Universities and Community Colleges have been updated with the 2023–2024 School Year data.

CRA small business and small farm loan data is updated through 2024.

Residential and business vacancy data from Valassis has been updated to 2026Q1 data.

The HRSA Community Health Centers and Look-Alikes point data has been updated on PolicyMap.

Tracts that are considered eligible low-income communities (LIC) for the new round of Opportunity Zone designations have been added to PolicyMap. This data is from the US Dept of the Treasury.

We are committed to our promise of curated, cleaned, standardized, and always updated data. We’re posting real-time updates on our website, LinkedIn and BlueSky.

Published Research

Explore scholarly works from students and researchers using PolicyMap.

University Anchor Initiatives and Gentrification Vulnerability: Predictors of Neighborhoods Targeted by Place-Based Development Initiatives, published in AERA Open

Love PolicyMap? Let us know!

We want to hear from you. Take 2-3 minutes to tell us about your experience using PolicyMap.

To thank you for your time and feedback!

Open PolicyMap Training Sessions

Offered twice a week. Register here.

Level 1: Learning the basics of PolicyMap
Level 2: Learn the Data Loader, Multi-Layer Maps, and other Advanced Features

Open to non-subscribers. Course times rotate weekly. Don’t see a time that works for you?
Contact us.

Library Newsletter: September 2026

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