Lauris Olson
Librarian & Coordinator, Social Sciences Collections
As the Penn Libraries' social sciences bibliographer - now coordinator for social sciences collections - since 1998, Lauris is responsible for selecting books, journals, electronic resources, and other media supporting Penn research and instruction in sociology, economics, linguistics, criminology, communication, and related fields. Lauris is Penn's Official Representative to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research and the contact person for the Penn Libraries' Pennsylvania State Data Center affiliate membership. Lauris coordinates collection development and management activities of subject librarians for anthropology & archaeology, business, education, gender, women's studies & sexuality, political science & international relations, psychology, and social policy & practice/social work. Lauris is also the Penn Libraries' African studies bibliographer. Lauris started at the Penn Libraries in 1991 as a Van Pelt Library reference librarian, but Lauris's presence at Penn began in 1975 as an undergraduate, earning BA and MA degrees in Anthropology here, alongside a Drexel library degree.
The Penn Libraries have expanded our collection of ICMA research survey datasets, adding 18 new surveys to our existing holdings.
The International City/County Management Association conducts national surveys of all U.S. counties and ~8,000 U.S. municipalities with populations of 2,500 or greater on topics of interest to local governments. The Penn Libraries acquire individual ICMA survey research microdata datasets on a case-by-case basis. The microdata dataset contains individual municipalities' responses to survey questions; accompanying files provide codebooks and supporting documentation. Microdata datasets are provided in MS Excel formats.
ICMA survey series and their current Penn Libraries holdings are:
- Municipal Form of Government : 2011.
- Economic Development : 2014, 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984.
- Alternative Service Delivery : 2017, 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, 1992, 1988, 1982.
- Government Technology Solutions : 2017.
- Innovations and Emerging Practices in Local Government : 2016.
- Immigrant Communities : 2018.
- Smart Cities : 2016.
- Sustainability in Local Government : 2010.
- State of the Profession : 2012, 2009.
The Penn Libraries have expanded our collection of ICMA research survey datasets, adding 18 new surveys to our existing holdings. The International City/County Management Association conducts national surveys of all U.S. counties and ~8,000 U.S. municipalities with populations of 2,500 or greater on topics of interest to local governments.