In a small, rural North Carolina town, the local school district notices a drop in test performance toward the end of every month. School leaders convene to investigate the cause. They discuss everything from course instruction to the impact of COVID-19 and the failures of modern parenting. Everyone has theories; no one has answers. Why?

Without reliable data, these leaders find it impossible to pinpoint the root cause. This lack of information leaves the community feeling helpless, unable to address the underlying issues and improve the lives of its children.

Unbeknownst to them, there is a hidden epidemic of childhood hunger that occurs every month because money in a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) hasn’t kept up with soaring food costs and runs out for economically disadvantaged kids toward the end of every month.

It is “unbeknownst” simply because, at the time, no data-collection method reached these economically disadvantaged citizens. Once it did, the correlation between childhood hunger and academic performance was made. According to a survey:

• Nearly 60% of children from low-income communities said they went to school hungry, and the majority of those kids admitted it made school difficult.
• Of those children, 12% were too distracted by their hunger to tackle their evening homework.
• 80% of teachers observed the negative impact of hunger on concentration.
• 76% of teachers saw decreased academic performance.
• 62% of teachers saw behavioral issues increase.

This scenario highlights a critical challenge: the gap between data and its effective use within communities. Ayoung Yoon is dedicated to bridging this gap. Yoon is an associate professor of library and information science, and data science at Indiana University’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. She believes data shouldn't be confined to ivory towers or corporate boardrooms but rather be a powerful tool for everyone, from researchers to everyday citizens.

"Data plays a fundamental role in our lives," Yoon says. "It not only advances scientific knowledge but also drives societal change and directly impacts people’s well-being."

Yoon's research delves deep into the heart of this issue. She investigates how data is collected, shared, and used, with a keen eye on equity and inclusion. Her focus is on a central question: How can we ensure that data reuse reflects the realities of all subsets in a community, not just the dominant ones? 

Consider the stark disparities in health outcomes often observed across different populations. Chronic diseases, for example, disproportionately affect certain subsets of a community because of differences in access to healthcare and environmental pollution. Yet, traditional data collection methods may fail to capture these nuances, leading to biased analyses and ineffective interventions.

Yoon's work seeks to address these challenges by exploring innovative approaches to data sharing and reuse . She emphasizes the importance of community engagement in the data collection and reuse  process, ensuring that the voices and perspectives of all community members are heard. This might involve conducting community-based participatory research and using community scienc e methodologies.

For instance, in a project exploring the impact of air pollution on underserved communities, Yoon might collaborate with data intermediaries or local knowledge organization (e.g., public libraries) for local residents to identify and monitor air quality in their specific neighborhoods by supporting easy and equitable access to data and by enhancing community's data literacy to fully understand the meaning of data. This approach not only ensures that the data accurately reflects the lived experiences of community members but also empowers them to become active participants in the research process.

Yoon’s vision is not just a dream. In communities across the country, libraries are already beginning to play this crucial role. They are partnering with local governments, non-profit organizations, and community groups to address pressing social issues — from food insecurity to affordable housing — using data as a guide.

For example:

• The Denver Public Library system in Colorado used a data-driven approach to identify areas with high needs for housing and food assistance. It then partnered with the city to provide technology assistance, including Chromebooks, Wi-Fi hotspots, and internet access to those experiencing homelessness.
• Salt Lake City Public Library works with state and local agencies to help those experiencing homelessness access social services such as mental health counseling and substance-abuse prevention programs. The library system even hired a licensed social worker to help address community needs and work with those in need.
• Asotin County Library in Washington provides an Open Data hub where residents can access data about the county, like health information, police incidents, and election results, among others.

These projects align with Yoon's work. Her research has shown that while the public has a growing interest in leveraging data, this data often is not accessible, understandable, or reusable for community members.

The IU Data to Action Lab, which Yoon directs, was launched in 2019 and reflects her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. By bringing together collaborators from diverse fields, including computer science, social work, and public health, the lab fosters a richer understanding of data and its implications.

"The concept of data is inherently multidimensional," Yoon says. "It requires diverse perspectives to fully grasp its potential."

This interdisciplinary approach is crucial and financially supported by major funding organizations. Yoon and fellow IU faculty member The funding is allowing Yoon to help position public libraries as key players in the open data movement by providing open data access, workforce development programs, and civic data engagement on the topic.

She and fellow associate professor Michin Hong then received a nearly $500,000 grant in late 2023 from the same institution for a three-year study entitled “Developing a Social Service Model in Rural Libraries.” This research aims to create a prototype for rural libraries to better serve their communities and contribute to community sustainability.

Yoon’s commitment to turn data into action goes beyond the research arena and into the classroom. She teaches two IU courses, Data Curation and Digital Preservation. Her goal there is to turn students into action-oriented data warriors to help further the cause.

“Given that our master’s program aims to prepare information professionals to tackle complex, real-world challenges, I incorporate practical, real-life examples into my teaching,” she says. “These hands-on experiences allow students to engage directly with real-world born-digital data issues, preparing them to address the multifaceted problems they will encounter in their careers.”