Using Public Records and Archival Data

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Using Public Records and Archival Data
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What are public records and archival data?

• Public records of a public entity that are
  available to the public by law. Archive a
  storehouse - literal and/or electronic - of print
  and other material that has been kept to preserve
  the history of the body or place they relate to.

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Why use public records and archival data?

• They're relatively easy for most people to gain
  access to.
• They can give you information about the history
  or status of the community that it would be
  difficult to get elsewhere. 
• They often make comparisons of your community
  with others.

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Why use public records and archival data? (cont.)

• They help you use your time efficiently.
• Their information may keep you from making
  important mistakes.
• They're part of an information package that will
  give you the most accurate and complete picture
  of the aspects of the community that you're
  concerned with.

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Who should use public records and archival data,
and when?

• Any group or individual involved in community
  assessment
• Community activists wanting to understand their
  issue better and support their arguments with
  accurate facts and figures.
• Community historians needing a picture not only
  of the "objective" history of the community, but
  also of the human history. 

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Who should use public records and archival data,
and when? (cont.)

• Health and human service organizations needing
  information about the current state of the
  community, its past history with particular
  issues, and previous prevention efforts or
  solutions.
• Public officials and other policy makers engaged
  in community assessment or in trying to
  determine policy on a particular issue.

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How do you use public records and archival data?

• Determine what type of information you need
  history, demographic, health-related, economic,
  housing, land use and development, etc.
• Determine where to find the information census
  data, federal, state, or local records, federal,
  state, or local archives, or the archives of
  media, libraries, museums, universities, and
  other institutions and organizations.

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Use the information intelligently

• Don't swamp yourself with information.
• Use community-level indicators to tell you more
  about the reality of the community's
  circumstances.
• Examine the social determinants of issues.
• Use comparisons with similar communities where
  you can to understand whether the issues in your
  community are exceptional.
• Think about the different ways you can find out
  what you want to know