Maurie Caitlin Kelly

Profiling a City: Information Resources on Chicago's 77 Community Areas.

Abstract Urban areas are often considered to have distinct qualities and characteristics, for example, Chicago is the “City that Works” and Philadelphia is known as the “City of Brotherly Love.” Whether or not these cities are accurately described by such labels is a question that may be answered by looking at the “cities within the city.” These distinctive communities are often studied by researchers in the fields of sociology, geography, criminal justice, and urban planning; by city managers for allocations of funds and services; and by citizens interested in relocating to or starting a business in a particular area. This article provides background about the 77 community areas of Chicago, describing information resources available for compiling such profiles. Many similar resources are available for urban areas nationwide.

DataNet: A model source for local documents

DataNet, a database produced by the Metro Chicago Information Center, is a unique resource for Chicago area government, regional government, and community organization information. It has a dual role as both a traditional source of bibliographic information and as a clearinghouse for names, addresses, and phone numbers of local agencies and information producers. In addition, DataNet could serve as a model local information database for other municipalities or local regional governments.