The Penn Libraries need your help in its trial of PolicyMap. This map-driven tool for community development and social planning and policy tool has recently been created by the Reinvestment Fund (TRF). PolicyMap is a recently-created resource, and TRF has asked the Penn Libraries to test its capabilities. The Penn Libraries trial of PolicyMap ends on 31 December 2009.

Login here for PolicyMap - trial access

PolicyMap provides a wide array of demographics, real estate, city crime rates, health, schools, housing affordability, employment, energy, and public investments. Data providers include the US Census Bureau, the IRS, HUD, and other federal agencies, Boxwood Means, American Bankruptcy Institute, Claritas, Great Schools, National Center for Charitable Statistics. Although PolicyMap's coverage is nationwide, the Reinvestment Fund's regional interest provides many variables for Pennsylvania and New Jersey only.

PolicyMap produces choropleth maps of individual variables and analytics combining multiple variables. It generates attractively-laid out reports and charts.

Instructors! Researchers! Students! If you use PolicyMap for your research or for your teaching, please share your experiences with us during this trial period. Please contact one of the following Penn Libraries librarians:

For more information:
Charles Cobine, Van Pelt RIS Urban Studies liaison
Lauris Olson, Social Sciences Bibliographer