Power mapping for libraries

A short webinar for Library Freedom Project on power mapping, focused on content providers and platforms.

Transcript

1. Power mapping for libraries Scarlet Galvan | December 7, 2023 Library Freedom Project
2. What is power mapping? • A visual way to understand influence, authority, and connections.
3. Why use this technique? • Used by community organizers, activists, outreach, collective power work and individual work • Explore early research questions • Helps us “see the whole board” • Part of strategy development • Map can be as straightforward or complex as needed
7. Places to start • News alerts and various search engines • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) EDGAR database • 990 Forms for non-profits • OpenSecrets.org • Vendor marketing emails • LinkedIn • Who someone follows and boosts on social
8. Campaign finance and lobbying data How are publishers and platforms spending money on lobbyists? Who did school board candidates contribute to? What about the people applying to be your new CTO?
10. “Tom Costabile is the executive director and CEO of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Eduardo F. Palacio is president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA).”
11. IEEE’s lobbying spend doubled in 2022
14. Power research and amplification of connections between powerful people and organizations.
15. What questions might we ask? What connections might publisher and platform- focused power research miss that LittleSis could surface?