Library Newsletter: March 2026

by PolicyMap Team
FEATURED POST

Why Public Libraries Matter – and How Data Helps Make Their Impact Visible

Today’s public libraries provide much more than books. From digital access and workforce training to lending tools that support health and connectivity, libraries reduce barriers and expand opportunity in their communities. Explore how data can help library leaders better understand local needs and make their impact visible.

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LIVE WEBINAR
Library Playbook Webinar

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

Join us Tuesday March 24th at 2pm EST

Join us for an online webinar designed specifically for library leaders and staff looking to strengthen advocacy and decision-making with critical data and mapping tools. We’ll end with a live Q&A.

Register Here
ON THE BLOG
Librarians

Libraries That Mean Business: Helping Entrepreneurs Map Opportunity with PolicyMap

Libraries are helping entrepreneurs turn local insight into economic opportunity. Across the country, small business owners are using PolicyMap through their libraries to assess markets, find ideal locations, and make informed decisions about where to grow. See how libraries are using data-driven mapping to empower residents, support small business creation, and strengthen community wealth.

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Claritas

Reaching the Right Audience Starts with Segmentation

Want to reach the right people more effectively? Discover how Claritas PRIZM® Premier’s powerful segmentation system helps you pinpoint your best audience and tailor strategies that truly resonate.

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Updated Data

**New Data** enhancement layers on predominant housing tenure are now available on PolicyMap.

**New Data** PolicyMap calculated three new health datasets: predominant chronic conditions, chronic conditions prevalence, and Medicare chronic conditions prevalence.

**New Data** The U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices dataset is now available on PolicyMap.

SNAP Retailer location data from the USDA has been updated to 2025.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Compendium of U.S. Health Systems data is now available on PolicyMap. This release includes four new point datasets showing the locations of hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient sites, and home health care organizations that are part of a health system in the United States.

HUD Racially or Ethnically Concentrated Areas of Poverty data has been updated to 2020.

BLS Local Area Unemployment (LAU) monthly statistics data has been updated through September 2025.

Minimum wage data by state from the U.S. Department of Labor has been updated for 2026.

The HRSA facilities point dataset has been updated for 2025-Q3 data release.

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.
In case you missed it

Published Research

Explore scholarly works from students and researchers using PolicyMap.

Community resilience and stroke outcomes in older adults: beyond rural-urban classifications, published in PubMed Central

Residential segregation, housing cost, and smoking behaviors in Black Americans, published in ScienceDirect

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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

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Upcoming Events

Join Us!

PLA 2026 Conference
April 1 – 3, 2026
Minneapolis, MN

PolicyMap is excited to return to the Public Library Association Conference. Stop by Booth #1241 to explore the latest trends, technologies, e-resource management, and digital services in libraries. Register here!
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