Publishing walking post

Author: DaveBathnes

_posts/2018-06-23-wales_part_one.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-title: "Wales: library locations"
+title: 'Wales: library locations'
 excerpt: Looking at library locations in Wales and access to libraries
 categories:
   - Open data
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ The work involved Kathryn painstakingly working through lists of libraries in Wa
 
 Collecting data on the locations of libraries has been attempted before. In 2012 the Collections Trust published contact details and locations for 4039 public libraries in the UK. There was a process for UK libraries to update this data, and it powered [Find a Library](http://www.bookmarkyourlibrary.org.uk/find-a-library) on the Society of Chief Librarians website, 'Bookmark Your Library'. Unfortunately these stopped being maintained, and the underlying culture grid aggregation platform (which held far more data than just libraries) was also [discontinued in 2015](https://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk/culture-grid/).
 
-In 2016 the Libraries Taskforce compiled a list of libraries from [all 151 English public library authories](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-libraries-in-england-basic-dataset). 
+In 2016 the Libraries Taskforce compiled a list of libraries from [all 151 English public library authories](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-libraries-in-england-basic-dataset).
 That included basic information like name and address, but also libraries that had closed since 2010, how the libraries were run, and how many hours they were open. Although useful, it didn't take long for it to become out of date.
 
 More than just being useful, an up to date list of libraries is the minimum the public should have as open data. If that can be done, and library services can engage with it, it could lead to more interesting library datasets.
@@ -31,25 +31,25 @@ One use of comprehensive locations of libraries is to consider areas in relation
 
 Although people may be interested in how different areas of the country compare, it would just highlight areas that are particularly rural as being 'bad'. But they're likely to be places you wouldn't expect to see a static library (maybe the middle of a forest). The Office for National Statistics [provide 10 rural/urban classifications of areas](https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/geography/geographicalproducts/ruralurbanclassifications/2011ruralurbanclassification) so we could ensure we only compare postcodes from the same classification.
 
-As long as you live in Wales, the [The Wales Library Postcode Assessor](https://walespostcodes.librarydata.uk) will check out your postcode, and give it a grade of A-F (Grade A being very good and close to a library, F being very far). Alternatively, a complete spreadsheet of all postcodes in Wales with the grading is [available to download on GitHub](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LibrariesHacked/walespostcodes-librarydata/master/data/wales_lottery.csv).
+As long as you live in Wales, the [The Wales Library Postcode Assessor](https://walespostcodes.librarydata.uk) will check out your postcode, and give it a grade of A-F (Grade A being very good and close to a library, F being very far). Alternatively, a complete spreadsheet of all postcodes in Wales with the grading is [available to download on GitHub](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LibrariesHacked/walespostcodes-librarydata/main/data/wales_lottery.csv).
 
 ### Wales public library standards
 
 [Wales public library standards](https://gov.wales/topics/culture-tourism-sport/museums-archives-libraries/libraries/public-library-standards/?lang=en) give precise guidance for locations of libraries. From 2014-2017 these were:
 
->Where the population density is 20 or more persons per hectare, at least 95% should live within two miles of a static service point. For those authorities with a population density between 1.1 and 19.9 persons per hectare, at least 75% should live within 2.5 miles (or 10 minutes travelling time on public transport) of a static service point or within a quarter of a mile from a mobile library stop. For those authorities with a population density of 1.0 persons per hectare or fewer, at  least 70% should live within 3 miles (or 15 minutes travelling time on public transport) of a static service point, or within quarter of a mile of a mobile library stop.
+> Where the population density is 20 or more persons per hectare, at least 95% should live within two miles of a static service point. For those authorities with a population density between 1.1 and 19.9 persons per hectare, at least 75% should live within 2.5 miles (or 10 minutes travelling time on public transport) of a static service point or within a quarter of a mile from a mobile library stop. For those authorities with a population density of 1.0 persons per hectare or fewer, at least 70% should live within 3 miles (or 15 minutes travelling time on public transport) of a static service point, or within quarter of a mile of a mobile library stop.
 
-Open Data on library locations allows us to independently assess these standards. It's quite a complex target: in some cases the population within 2.5 miles, in others 3 miles. It would be good to understand the reasoning behind it all. For each authority we can calculate: 
+Open Data on library locations allows us to independently assess these standards. It's quite a complex target: in some cases the population within 2.5 miles, in others 3 miles. It would be good to understand the reasoning behind it all. For each authority we can calculate:
 
 - Population density (population / number of hectares)
 - Percentage population within 2 miles of a library
 - Percentage population within 2.5 miles of a library
 - Percentage population within 3 miles of a library
 
-Results of the static library analysis [are on Github](https://github.com/LibrariesHacked/wales-librarydata/blob/master/data/libraries/standards.csv).
+Results of the static library analysis [are on Github](https://github.com/LibrariesHacked/wales-librarydata/blob/main/data/libraries/standards.csv).
 
-Cardiff is the only authority with a population density greater than 20 persons per hectare, so is the only one required to have 95% of people within 2 miles of a library. This is achieved, with 99%. 
+Cardiff is the only authority with a population density greater than 20 persons per hectare, so is the only one required to have 95% of people within 2 miles of a library. This is achieved, with 99%.
 
 At the other end of the scale there are a few authorities with a population density of less than one person per hectare: Ceredigion, Gynedd, Powys. Ceredigion seems to struggle to make the standard with 68% within 3 miles of a library. However, that's pretty close to the 70%, and doesn't take into account the mobile libraries to provide additional coverage.
 
-We don't yet have open data on mobile library stops. There [were 13 authorities in Wales](https://github.com/LibrariesHacked/mobiles-librarydata/blob/master/data/authorities.csv) with at least 1 mobile library, so it would be a great future task to maintain this data somewhere like WikiData, and perhaps build a [mobile library lookup tool](http://somersetmobiles.librarieshacked.org/).
+We don't yet have open data on mobile library stops. There [were 13 authorities in Wales](https://github.com/LibrariesHacked/mobiles-librarydata/blob/main/data/authorities.csv) with at least 1 mobile library, so it would be a great future task to maintain this data somewhere like WikiData, and perhaps build a [mobile library lookup tool](http://somersetmobiles.librarieshacked.org/).

_posts/2019-02-23-mobile-library-data-project.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-title: "Mobile libraries: project introduction"
+title: 'Mobile libraries: project introduction'
 excerpt: Promoting the use of mobile library data to solve problems
 categories:
   - Mobile libraries
@@ -13,43 +13,46 @@ It's easy to moan about lack of data on UK public library locations, but there h
 
 Lack of mobile library data is worse. With static libraries, at least the public can go to their authority website and see a list of libraries. Normally in accessible web formats, with features such as finding your nearest.
 
-With mobile libraries you *may* find a link to some PDF timetables. Possibly called North, South and Central, and you need to choose which applies to you. They will be unreadable in attempting to convey a stop location, a route, and a calendar of dates.
+With mobile libraries you _may_ find a link to some PDF timetables. Possibly called North, South and Central, and you need to choose which applies to you. They will be unreadable in attempting to convey a stop location, a route, and a calendar of dates.
 
-One such timetable lists stops with different combinations of text/background colours, and provides a calendar lookup using the same colouring. So long as you remember *your* stop has a light blue background with white text, rather than dark blue background with black text, and you have no difficulty with those differences, then you're fine.
+One such timetable lists stops with different combinations of text/background colours, and provides a calendar lookup using the same colouring. So long as you remember _your_ stop has a light blue background with white text, rather than dark blue background with black text, and you have no difficulty with those differences, then you're fine.
 
 Sometimes there's no PDF. Just a web page recommending you call your nearest library to find out when the mobile library visits.
 
 It's hard to blame staff for this. Mobile library data is complex, and presenting it is difficult. But each authority attempts to do this in isolation. After looking through every mobile library web page and timetable, there are few alike, despite attempting the exact same thing.
 
-In the last two years, twelve UK local authorities have stopped providing mobile libraries. The decline is more rapid than that of static libraries, and it affects people who are least able to visit local services. But with hardly any data on mobile libraries, it is difficult to keep track of this. [This data file](https://github.com/LibrariesHacked/mobiles-librarydata/blob/master/data/authorities.csv) is updated with a list of local authorities, and the number of mobiles each has. But updating that data is a manual process of searching through each local authority website.
+In the last two years, twelve UK local authorities have stopped providing mobile libraries. The decline is more rapid than that of static libraries, and it affects people who are least able to visit local services. But with hardly any data on mobile libraries, it is difficult to keep track of this. [This data file](https://github.com/LibrariesHacked/mobiles-librarydata/blob/main/data/authorities.csv) is updated with a list of local authorities, and the number of mobiles each has. But updating that data is a manual process of searching through each local authority website.
 
 ## What can be done?
 
 Firstly, what are the problems?
 
-* No standard for presenting mobile library timetables. This leads to decline in use, accessibility issues, and lack of investment in mobile services.
-* Mobile libraries would particularly benefit from existing open geographic intelligence on population and deprivation stats, and route analysis software. But with no data on our mobiles, there is no way of taking advantage of this.
-* With no national data there can be no combined national analysis, and no data-informed method for providing national support or guidance.
-* No innovation. Any advances in how mobile libraries are delivered requires data about existing services that doesn't exist.
+- No standard for presenting mobile library timetables. This leads to decline in use, accessibility issues, and lack of investment in mobile services.
+- Mobile libraries would particularly benefit from existing open geographic intelligence on population and deprivation stats, and route analysis software. But with no data on our mobiles, there is no way of taking advantage of this.
+- With no national data there can be no combined national analysis, and no data-informed method for providing national support or guidance.
+- No innovation. Any advances in how mobile libraries are delivered requires data about existing services that doesn't exist.
 
 Looking at these issues, possible project steps could be:
 
 1. Construct a standard format for mobile library data, after researching existing data and requirements.
 2. Create a data portal to collect and aggregate this data, across mobile library services
 3. Allow maintenance of data on the data portal e.g. by local authorities
-4. Design a print format for presenting this data (e.g. using rail/bus timetables as reference) 
+4. Design a print format for presenting this data (e.g. using rail/bus timetables as reference)
 5. Create a website to list this data and provide:
-  * Mobile-friendly web information to find your nearest stop and next visit date.
-  * An automated printable timetable that is accessible, familiar, and easy to understand
-  * Maps for viewing stop locations
-  * The option to embed these features on individual local authority websites
-  * Raw data, published against a standard schema
+
+- Mobile-friendly web information to find your nearest stop and next visit date.
+- An automated printable timetable that is accessible, familiar, and easy to understand
+- Maps for viewing stop locations
+- The option to embed these features on individual local authority websites
+- Raw data, published against a standard schema
+
 5. Explore future benefits
-  * Analysis of stop locations with relation to current population need
-  * Analysis of routes and efficiencies, particularly across authority boundaries
-  * Display of live data such as GPS in mobile libraries to present this in the website
-  * Exploration of dynamic timetables such as 'request stops' that could be requested through the website.
-  * More modern web integrations such as mobile notifications and downloading stop timetables to phone calendars.
+
+- Analysis of stop locations with relation to current population need
+- Analysis of routes and efficiencies, particularly across authority boundaries
+- Display of live data such as GPS in mobile libraries to present this in the website
+- Exploration of dynamic timetables such as 'request stops' that could be requested through the website.
+- More modern web integrations such as mobile notifications and downloading stop timetables to phone calendars.
 
 This is quite an ambitious project, but each step presents benefits. Having a standard data schema would be useful. Publishing data from multiple authorities would allow that data to be analysed by interested individuals. The construction of a website could be done in gradual steps, with user feedback.
 
@@ -59,10 +62,10 @@ With something like this it's worth starting small. I've been constructing a dat
 
 To make this worthwhile it needs resources though. Constructing the data isn't too difficult, and creating a single snapshot of that data, in a data portal, presented in a single web page is possible. But that's a proof of concept only. In time it needs:
 
-* User experience and accessibility experts to provide professional designs, especially for print formats
-* Engagement with library services to provide data, and take responsibility for maintaining data
-* Library services to actually use the portal for promoting their services
-* User feedback and workshops to improve the web portal
-* Library services willing to take risks and experiment, such as installing a GPS tracker on the mobile library
+- User experience and accessibility experts to provide professional designs, especially for print formats
+- Engagement with library services to provide data, and take responsibility for maintaining data
+- Library services to actually use the portal for promoting their services
+- User feedback and workshops to improve the web portal
+- Library services willing to take risks and experiment, such as installing a GPS tracker on the mobile library
 
 Any mobile library services interested in this?