University of Washington (University of Washington, The Information School)

The University of Washington will develop an educational program to prepare both new students and practicing professionals to: curate collections of open data of value to local communities, build infrastructure and preservation environments needed to sustain open data collections, and collaborate with open data providers on advocacy and outreach activities. Project collaborators include the Seattle Public Library, Washington State Historical Society, Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Washington State Office of Technology. The project will benefit over 100 LIS students, through new course creation and practical field experience, and approximately 60 professionals, through webinars and open educational resources. The summative evaluation of the project will also include a study of broader workforce needs for public open data expertise.