Urban Studies 420 Library Research Guide

Jump to: Neighborhood Councils and Community Plans / Published Reports / News Articles / Statistics & Facts / Data Mapping / Identifying Local Associations and Groups / Internet Searching.

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Los Angeles Neighborhood Councils and Community Plans

Official Web Site of The City of Los Angeles includes:

• Los Angeles Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment including Neighborhood Council Maps
• Los Angeles Department of City Planning.
  • Los Angeles City General Plan
  • Los Angeles City Community Plans.
• City Charter, Rules and Codes
• California Local Codes and Charters (Institute of Governmental Studies) has links to the municipal codes of many cities in California, including Los Angeles Code Resources.

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Published Reports on specific types of community issues may already be available.

Find Books

• Library Catalog
• WorldCat

Journal Articles

• Find Articles and Research Data
• Databases A-Z

Once You Have Identified an Article You Want to Locate

• How to Locate Articles Online or in the Library
• "Find Text" Frequently Asked Questions

Government Information

• Government databases for urban planning
  • HUD USER Database focuses on housing policy, building technology, economic development, urban planning, community development issues, etc.
  • National Criminal Justice Reference Service Advanced Site Search (includes both their Abstracts data base to identify articles and their full-text collection)
  • TRIS Online covers transportation literature.
• Government Reference Sources. If you are interested in problems involving crime or transportation, the resources listed here are vital starting points.
• Ways to Search for Government Information suggests sources to use to access government-published materials. The internet search tools can be very helpful.

News Articles

• Recent issues of the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News newspapers are available online via Proquest Newspapers or Lexis-Nexis Academic. (Check the database for dates included online; Proquest currently has a much greater time span for recent years of the Los Angeles Times and offers the separate ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times database for earlier years. Oviatt Library also owns a microfilm copy of the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News). Many other newspapers are also available through these databases.
• Local news websites are included in the page News on the Web.

Statistics and Facts

Population

• Demographic Research Unit Statistical Reports (City of Los Angeles Planning Department). Census data from 2000 and other data, including more recent population estimates, by Los Angeles City community planning areas such as Encino-Tarzana and Northridge. Note: This site seems to work better with Internet Explorer.
• American FactFinder (Census Bureau). Population and housing facts, including easy access to Census 2000 data/maps, on incorporated cities and--if you use census tracts or zip code boundaries--parts of cities. For data or maps of communities within the City of Los Angeles (i.e. Northridge, Chatsworth, Pacoima, etc.) zip code or census tract geographies should be used. Note: The Oviatt Library online guides Finding Census 2000 Data by Zip Code and Finding Census Tract Data on the Internet provide detailed directions on using American Factfinder to find Census of Population and Housing data when the geographic area of interest is smaller than a city.
• Zip Code Data Book (United Way of Greater Los Angeles). Zip code data/estimates on demographic, economic, and health topics such as poverty level, cause of death, Public Assistance recipients, etc. for communities in Los Angeles County. Includes both tables and maps. Many tables are based on government data.
• Community Information by Zip Code (California State University, Northridge Library) includes Information about People and Households by Zip Code.
• Interactive City Maps (City of Los Angeles). Offers land and property information, 2000 demographic information at the census tract level, and more.

Businesses

• Zip Code Business Patterns by NAICS (Census Bureau). Total number of establishments and number of establishments by employment-size classes by detailed industry. Data on mid-March employment, first quarter payroll, and annual payroll are summarized by zip code without industry detail. Data are collected annually. See also the earlier data by SIC.
• MPA Market Profile Analysis: Consumer and Business Demographic Reports. Print source from Donnelley Marketing with zip code level information, most of which is based on Census Bureau data. CSUN library owns reports for Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Orange County, California. Latest copies are on Reference Room Table 4.
• Economic Census (Census Bureau). Data for incorporated cities plus some data by zip code. Some 2002 and 1997 Economic Census data is also searchable in American FactFinder.
• Community Information by Zip Code (California State University, Northridge Library) includes Business Statistics by Zip Code.
• Switchboard's Find a Business search allows you to locate specific types of businesses near a specific address or zip code.

Housing, building permits, and home sales

• Demographic Research Unit Statistical Reports (City of Los Angeles Planning Department). Data on building permits by Los Angeles City community planning areas.
• L. A. Times Dataquik. Home sales information by community name as well as city.
• Residential Vacancy Data (City of Los Angeles Housing Department). Some tables are by community planning area name, others by zip code or census tract.
• Interactive City Maps (City of Los Angeles). Offers land and property information, 2000 demographic information at the census tract level, flood zone information in a map form, and more.
• RAND California (Oviatt Library subscription source). Numerous statistical databases on California, many of which include data at the city or zip code level. Many tables are based on government data. Includes Housing Foreclosure Statistics and Housing Prices/Transaction Statistics by zip code.

Local Crime Data Online

• Crime Statistics and Crime Maps for the City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Police Department). Some data is by police division.
• Los Angeles County Sex Offender Locations. Number of convicted sex offenders in a specific geographic area; searchable by zip code or address.
• Los Angeles. School Crime Search Form (Los Angeles School Police). Crime statistics, by school, for schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
• Zip Code Data Book (United Way of Greater Los Angeles). Zip code data/estimates on demographic, economic, and health topics such as poverty level, cause of death, Public Assistance recipients, etc. for communities in Los Angeles County. Many tables are based on government data. Includes crimes/arrests by police jurisdiction.

Local Environment Statistics and Facts Online

• Search Your Community (Enviromental Protection Agency). Search by zip code for environmental data from several databases.
• Water Quality Report for parts of the City of Los Angeles.
• Interactive City Maps (City of Los Angeles). Offers land and property information, 2000 demographic information at the census tract level, flood zone information in a map form, and more.
• HUD Locator Services (Housing and Urban Development Department). Creates maps that combine information on community development and housing programs with environmental data. Area to be mapped can be set by Zip Code, city, state, or street address--which allows you to map local neighborhoods.
• Community Information by Zip Code (California State University, Northridge Library) includes Environmental Information by Zip Code.

Other Useful CSUN Library Guides to Statistical Sources

• San Fernando Valley Statistics and Facts
• Los Angeles Government Sources
• Information about Schools in California
• Finding Census 2000 Data by Zip Code
• Finding Census Tract Data on the Internet
• Community Information by Zip Code

Data Mapping / GIS

What is GIS?

• Geographical Information Systems, a U.S. Geological Survey explanation of what a GIS is and how it works.

Examples of online maps from federal agencies

• Maps in American Factfinder
• HUD Locator Services (Housing and Urban Development Department).

GIS links from the City of Los Angeles

• Interactive City Maps (City of Los Angeles).

Examples of other GIS sites and projects focusing on the Los Angeles area

• Property Assessment Information System (Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor)
• Healthy City

Additional GIS links

• California Digital Conservation Atlas (California Legacy Project)
• California Spatial Information Library (California Mapping Coordinating Committee)
• Neighborhood Knowledge California
• Maps & GIS
• Geography Network
• ESRI
• California State University Northridge certificate program in GIS

Identifying Local Associations and Organizations

Typically, it is easy to find some of the organizations that exist in a community and very difficult (especially for non-members of the community) to identify them all. Some suggestions regarding how to find local associations and organizations are given below.

Print resources

• Books: Do a Keyword search in the Library Catalog for Los Angeles and Directories, then sort out what is useful. (You can also try San Fernando Valley and Directories). Examples of what you find in the catalog include:
  • Los Angeles source book, a print directory of Los Angeles associations (latest copy: Reference Room HS61.L6 L67).
  • Chatsworth Northridge Porter Ranch business directory and community resource guide
• Telephone directories
  • White Pages: check for specific organizations by name.
  • Yellow Pages
    1. Yellow Pages from different companies may use different subject categories. Some include a master list of the categories used to organize the listings while others give suggestions of related categories with the listings themselves.
    2. Check by category, such as: Associations; Clubs; Athletic Organizations; Frateral Organizations; Social Service Organizations; Youth Organizations and Centers; Golf Courses; Business and Trade Organizations; Chambers of Commerce; Environmental, Conservation and Ecological Organizations; Fraternities and Sororities; Historical Organizations; Human Services Organizations; Humane Societies; Labor Organizations; Political Consultants and Organizations; Professional Organizations; Womens Organizations.
    3. Yellow Page listings are paid ads (rather than free listings), hence some nonprofit community groups may be listed under services they offer to the public such as Horse Stables, Dog Training, etc.; you have to sort out the non-profit organizations from commercial businesses if that status matters.
• Directories: Search for local affiliates of state/national/citywide groups using directories such as the Encyclopedia of Associations to locate the headquarters of the group and then inquire about local affiliates.

Internet resources

• Healthy City maps and lists organizations from INFO LINE of Los Angeles.
• Incorporation records: identify non-profit corporations and local companies using California's Business Search.
• Guidestar. Searchable database of more than 850,000 nonprofit organizations.
• Internet Search Engines. There are various internet search engines available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
  • Some search engines are organized as directories of websites, which can lead to pages like:
    • Open Directory's San Fernando Valley
    • Yahoo's San Fernando Valley
  • Some search engines (Google is an example) excel in precise searching for specific keywords. Try searching for the specific community's name with a zip code and a key word (association, club, etc.).

Local institutions

Schools, Hospitals, Churches, Synagogues, Libraries, Courthouses, Fire stations, Police stations, etc. should be identified. Inquire whether these have affiliated groups (Parent-Teacher Associations, Friends groups, Neighborhood Watch groups, etc.).

What community groups hold meetings in the community?

Are there public meeting rooms/facilities in local public or private buildings? What groups use these for regular meetings? Likewise, find out what groups reserve facilities like parks and playgrounds for activities. Check any notices in local media of community group meetings. Ask people who live and/or work in the community.

Groups Mentioned in Books or Articles

Check for books and newspaper articles about the community which might include the names of relevant organizations, groups, or associations (current or in the past).

A Few Tips for More Effective Internet Searching

1. Internet Search Engines are not all the same. Learn how to use search engines and directories effectively. Consider using advanced search options when available.
2. Evaluate what you find on the Internet before you rely upon it.
3. Use sites prepared by professional associations and/or otherwise credible organizations in a specific field. As examples:
   • American Planning Association
   • Public Policy Institute of California
   • Valley Virtual Library (Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley)
4. Use sites listed on library guides. These are selected by reference librarians for their usefulness and content.
5. Use site specific search engines such as the Oviatt Library's Search Our Web Pages.
6. Government information online: Consult Ways to Search for Government Information for effective search techniques, especially finding a specific agency's site and search tools that restrict an internet search to the .gov domain. USA.gov advanced searches can be limited to federal, federal and all states, one state, or all states.

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Created and maintained by Mary M. Finley
Questions or comments: mary.finley@csun.edu
Links checked: 22 August 2008

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