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Tim Sutherland
By Jeff Brewer and Jayne Spencer
The new Northwest Indiana Center for Data and Analysis at Indiana University's Gary campus will provide unprecedented access to current and historical statistical data as well as regional demographic profiles, much of which will be available through electronic means.
The center was funded through IU's Strategic Directions initiative.
According to Tim Sutherland, associate librarian of government publications at IU Northwest and the director of the new center, the campus' extensive library holdings will assist researchers in accessing information about businesses, educational institutions, government agencies, libraries and nonprofit social service agencies.
"The center will link information, data resources and expertise from IUN with the needs of organizations seeking to promote economic development and a better quality of life in northwest Indiana," he said. Since the area competes with markets in Illinois and Michigan for business and industry, demographics are important to potential business ventures.
Many of the center's services will be available through Web access, data diskettes and publications on CD-ROM.
Statistical subject areas contained at the center include: Business, Economics and Marketing; Cities, Housing and Transportation; Crime and Violence; Education and Careers; Employment, Income and Poverty; Health and Environment; Population, Age, Gender and Race; International Trade and Manufacturing; and Government and Taxation.
"Data are essential for economic development activities, the effective marketing of products and services, the development of social policy and environmental assessments," Sutherland said.
He said a full-time researcher, Elizabeth Mercer-Taylor, is now on staff and that a Web site for the center will be completed for public access in March.