In 2017, the Los Angeles County Library launched the iCount initiative, which aimed to remove barriers to access and address inequality across the system. In 2020, the LAC Chief Executive Office launched the county-wide Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative (ARDI), which has enhanced the library’s commitment to anti-racism and the library’s broad scope of programs and services. As the library works towards these Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) goals, they believe now is the time to enhance the library’s data collection and analysis capabilities to measure and evaluate progress. 

Los Angeles County will partner with FUSE to develop a comprehensive approach to data collection and analysis across the library system, with special attention to JEDI goals. The FUSE Executive Fellow will conduct a gap analysis of current data collection and analysis approaches, advise library leadership on what data tools meet their needs, develop guidelines and insights on implementing longitudinal surveys, and design guidance on collecting data sensitively and unobtrusively. This work will ensure that library staff and partners are equipped with the data and methods necessary to measure progress towards anti-racism in the library system.