The latest report PEW Report Library Services in the Digital Age has hit the scene and provides important and critical information in the ongoing pursuit to provide wonderful and responsive libraries in our community. Add this to your bookmarks now!
The respected Pew Internet & American Life Project is part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant portfolio. This report is important because it surveys a wide range of US citizens – not just one age group, or local population, or one language group or just people who already use libraries. Though based on US data, the findings have relevance around the globe providing important insights into the role of libraries in people’s lives and their communities.
Summary of Findings (Pew Report)
The internet has already had a major impact on how people find and access information, and now the rising popularity of e-books is helping transform Americans’ reading habits. In this changing landscape, public libraries are trying to adjust their services to these new realities while still serving the needs of patrons who rely on more traditional resources. In a new survey of Americans’ attitudes and expectations for public libraries, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project finds that many library patrons are eager to see libraries’ digital services expand, yet also feel that print books remain important in the digital age.
The availability of free computers and internet access now rivals book lending and reference expertise as a vital service of libraries. In a national survey of Americans ages 16 and older:
- 80% of Americans say borrowing books is a “very important” service libraries provide.
- 80% say reference librarians are a “very important” service of libraries.
- 77% say free access to computers and the internet is a “very important” service of libraries.
Moreover, a notable share of Americans say they would embrace even wider uses of technology at libraries such as:
- Online research services allowing patrons to pose questions and get answers from librarians: 37% of Americans ages 16 and older would “very likely” use an “ask a librarian” type of service, and another 36% say they would be “somewhat likely” to do so.
- Apps-based access to library materials and programs: 35% of Americans ages 16 and older would “very likely” use that service and another 28% say they would be “somewhat likely” to do so.
- Access to technology “petting zoos” to try out new devices: 35% of Americans ages 16 and older would “very likely” use that service and another 34% say they would be “somewhat likely” to do so.
- GPS-navigation apps to help patrons locate material inside library buildings: 34% of Americans ages 16 and older would “very likely” use that service and another 28% say they would be “somewhat likely” to do so.
- “Redbox”-style lending machines or kiosks located throughout the community where people can check out books, movies or music without having to go to the library itself: 33% of Americans ages 16 and older would “very likely” use that service and another 30% say they would be “somewhat likely” to do so.
- “Amazon”-style customized book/audio/video recommendation schemes that are based on patrons’ prior library behavior: 29% of Americans ages 16 and older would “very likely” use that service and another 35% say they would be “somewhat likely” to do so.
When Pew Internet asked the library staff members in an online panel about these services, the three that were most popular were classes on e-borrowing, classes on how to use handheld reading devices, and online “ask a librarian” research services. Many librarians said that their libraries were already offering these resources in various forms, due to demand from their communities.
These are some of the key findings from a new national survey of 2,252 Americans ages 16 and older by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and underwritten by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The interviews were conducted on October 15-November 10, 2012 and done on cell phone and landlines and in English and Spanish.
Summary of Findings:
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/library-services/
Part 1: The role of libraries in people’s lives and communities
Part 2: What people do at libraries and library websites
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/part-2-what-people-do-at-libraries-and-library-websites/
Part 3: Technology use at libraries
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/part-3-technology-use-at-libraries/
Part 4: What people want from their libraries
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/part-4-what-people-want-from-their-libraries/
Part 5: The present and future of libraries
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/part-5-the-present-and-future-of-libraries/
Methodology
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/methodology-8/
Appendix
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/appendix/
Report Materials
Photo: Welcome to the Library cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by Enokson
Related articles
- Part 4: What people want from their libraries (justinthelibrarian.com)
- Media Decoder: Pew Survey Finds Reliance on Libraries for Computers and Internet (mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com)
- Are Search Engines Driving Libraries To Extinction? Not Quite Yet (searchengineland.com)
- Books rule, but library users like innovations, poll says (stltoday.com)
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