Social Explorer Trial

Library Services is currently running a trial of Social Explorer, a database that provides quick and easy visualizations of current and historical demographic data. Use this guide to explore its offerings based on subjects available in the resource.

The trial will be available from February 11, 2021, through June 30, 2021.

Social Explorer Training Modules

These training modules are built using the Social Explorer "Tell a Story" tool.  These are great resources for patrons looking to build data visualizations for their course work and research.  The "Tell a Story" tool allows you to easily share your research and coursework with others.  Work your way through these training modules to quickly gain expertise in using Social Explorer.

• Data Categories and Sources: Social Explorer offers a wealth of historical and current data. This module explains how to find the data you are looking for.
• Layer Library: Social Explorer's Layer Library provides you with the tools to add more visual insights to your maps.  Let's take a look at how to add map layers from the Layer Library.
• Comparison Views: Social Explorer allows you to compare variables by showing them side by side or swiping between two maps. Let's explore how to make map comparisons in Social Explorer.
• Geography Levels: Social Explorer allows you to examine datasets at a wide variety of geographic levels from city, county, and congressional districts, all the way down to school district, census tract, and block group. Let's find out more about geography levels on Social Explorer.
• Types of Visualization: Social Explorer can display data as a shaded area, dot density, or bubble map. Let's find out more about these types of visualizations.
• Multivariate Visualization: Social Explorer allows you to map multiple variables on a single map. Let's explore multivariate visualizations.
• Masking and Filtering: The masking tool allows you to focus on a specific map area by removing data from all the surrounding areas, while the data filtering tool allows you to filter geographies by data and identify locations based on your search. 
• Annotations: Social Explorer offers several different types of annotations to enhance your map. These include place markers, hotspots, and a variety of drawing tools.

Teaching and Learning Modules

Explore resources created by Social Explorer to inspire creativity, encourage hands-on learning, and equip your students with desired skills.

This library of activities is ready to help you engage your class. Sortable by subject, length, and level, it's simple to find the right activity to plug into your lesson plan.

Check for the latest data snacks, short modules that use Social Explorer maps and data to help visualize answers to current, relevant questions in our society today. 

Click here to get started!

Explore Maps

Login here and start exploring! You can pick from maps that cover everything from 220 years of U.S. Census data, U.S. elections, crime, business, environmental, health, and religion data, even statistics for Europe and World Development Indicators. 

Make maps for your assignments quickly and easily, then save your work and tell your stories with data.

Let's Get Started

Login here and start exploring! Maps that cover everything from 220 years of U.S. Census data, U.S. elections, crime, business, environmental, health, and religion data, even statistics for Europe and World Development Indicators. 

The Tables page provides easy access to all datasets available on Social Explorer, including detailed documentation and options to create customized reports. You can also access all survey data directly via Social Explorer's Data Dictionary. 

Social Explorer Account Set-up for Students, Instructors, and University Staff

You can gain access to Social Explorer through your institutional license. Click on this Social Explorer Account Link, find your school, and follow the prompts. Please use your institutional email address for best results. You will then receive an activation link to the email address used for setting up your account and you're all set. You can now save your work to your own Social Explorer account.