Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Research Center Internet Project, runs through the seven questions libraries need to address as they consider future services and their role for their patrons and communities. He describes how project research about the changing role of technology in people’s lives affects the kinds of issues librarians need to address as they experience the disruptions of technology change.
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The Future of Libraries
1. The Future of Libraries
7 Questions Librarians Need to Answer
Lee Rainie
Director – Pew Internet Project
April 10, 2014
Texas Library Association
@lrainie | @pewinternet | @pewresearch
2. 2
“Tweckle (twek’ul) vt. To
abuse a speaker to Twitter
followers in the audience
while he/she is speaking.”
3. 3
we need a tshirt, "I survived the
keynote disaster of 09"
it's awesome in the "I don't want to
turn away from the accident
because I might see a severed
head" way
too bad they took my utensils away
w/ my plate. I could have jammed
the butter knife into my temple.
http://bit.ly/124U9a4
5. The big questions
1. What’s the future of knowledge?
2. What’s the future of pathways to
knowledge (reference expertise)?
3. What’s the future of public technology
and community anchor institutions?
4. What’s the future of learning
“spaces”?
5. What’s the future of attention (and its
structural holes)?
6. What’s the franchise?
6. Q7: Where do you fit on the dashboard?
ALA’s “Confronting the Future”
Totally physical
(facilities and media)
Individual focus
Collection library
(physical and virtual)
Portal
Everything for everyone
Totally virtual
(facilities and media)
Community focus
Creation library
(social, maker space)
Archive
Specialized niche
8. 1) Libraries are appreciated
91% say libraries are
important to their
communities
76% say libraries are
important to them
and their families
Robert Dawson photography - Library Road Trip
http://www.robertdawson.com/pages/1/Public%20Library%3a%20An%20American%20Commons/Public%20Library%3a%2
0An%20American%20Commons/
9. If your local public library CLOSED,
would that have a MAJOR impact,
MINOR impact or NO IMPACT on …
29
63
38
27
32
7
0 20 40 60 80 100
You and your family
Your community as a
whole
major impact minor impact no impact
11. 48
69
72
77
33
24
24
19
11
3
2
2
5
2
2
2
3
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Public libraries provide many
services people would have a
hard time finding elsewhere.
Having a public library improves
the quality of life in a
community.
Because it provides free access
to materials and resources, the
public library plays an important
role in giving everyone a…
Public libraries are important
because they promote literacy
and a love of reading.
Strongly agree somewhat agree Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree don’t know
96%
96%
93%
81%
12. 22
11
31
23
20
28
26
27
1
10
0 20 40 60 80 100
People do NOT need public
libraries as much as they used to
because they can find most
information on their own.
Public libraries have NOT done a
good job keeping up with new
technologies.
Strongly agree somewhat agree Somewhat Disagree
34%
53%
55%
46%
13. 13
2) Libraries stack up well vs. others
How confident? How important?
63 28
Library to community
14. 3) People like librarians
98% of “ever” library visitors say interactions are “very
positive”
81% of library visitors say librarians are “very helpful”
50% of “last year” visitors got help from a librarian
15. 4) Libraries have rebranded themselves as
tech hubs
80% of Americans say
borrowing books is a
“very important”
service libraries
provide
80% say reference
librarians are a “very
important” service
77% say free access to
computers and the
internet is a “very
important” service
76% say quiet study
spaces are a “very
important” service
16. 5) Reading is alive and well
81% of those ages 16 and older read a book in the previous year,
including 28% who read an e-book
13 is the mean/average number of books read in past 12 months and
median/midpoint is 5
24 is mean/average for e-book readers
30% of e-content consumers are reading more now because e-
content is available on new devices -- 41% for tablet owners
8% of those 16+ have borrowed an e-book from a library – and they
are book buyers, too!
17. Now, back to the big questions
1. What’s the future of knowledge?
2. What’s the future of pathways to knowledge
(reference expertise)?
3. What’s the future of public technology and
community anchor institutions?
4. What’s the future of learning “spaces”?
5. What’s the future of attention (and its
structural holes)?
6. What’s the franchise?
7. Where do you fit on the dashboard?
19. • How is it created? New scientific method
(and citizen scientists) … Big data …
Niches and argument … Simulations and
models
• What are its interfaces? New displays …
Networked data/info … Gamified
environments
• How is it disseminated? Social networks
and media … Flipped schools … Learning
as a process
20. Q2: What is the future of pathways to
knowledge (reference expertise)?
21. • How do you search for information?
Bigger, better search for everything … New
interfaces …“Semantic web” … Bots …
Predictive analytics
• How do you aggregate / curate it? Key
attribute of a helpful network “node” …
“Do what you do best and link to the rest”
• What new literacies are required to
understand it? Searching … Evaluating …
Pattern recognition and critical thinking …
Coding and media production skills
22. Q3: What is the future of public technology
and community anchor institutions?
23. • What ‘s the future of knowledge access
points? Pervasive … Perpetual … Secure …
On call
• Where does local fit in? Huge for libraries
• What divides persist / emerge? Access …
competence … Quality of your network
• What access models are enabled in new era
of property / sharing? Subscription …
Freemium … Platform for performance and
discovery (local authors / creators) … Maker
spaces
25. • What fosters collaboration? Creativity?
Problem solving? In person … Electronically
… Participatory … Experiential
• What’s the future of literacy? New
networking and technology skills
• What is the role of solitude and quiet
spaces? Help with personal balance
• What allies can help you provide key
information to your community? Social
networking strategy for the institution
27. • Multitasking
• Deep diving
• Snacking
• What gaps can we fill?
–Efficiencies we can offer in a world of
changing abundance and scarcity
–Personal needs – skills upgrading
–Community needs
–Time use
28. Q6: What’s the franchise?
• What’s the commodity?
Homework: The Innovators Dilemma
The Innovators Solution
Clayton Christensen, Michael Raynor
29. Examples of market and cultural shortcomings
librarians are (and could) address
1) Technology non-users - skills training in new
literacies
2) Pre-school programs
3) After school activities
4) English as a second language courses
5) Lifelong learning opportunities / credentialing
competency
6) Fill gaps in local media ecosystem – community
and civic information/curation
7) Help for small business / entrepreneurs / non-
profits
8) Serendipity agents of discovery
31. Answer the Marvin Gaye question
• 22% say that they know all or most of the services
their libraries offer
• 46% say they know some of what their libraries offer
• 31% said they know not much or nothing at all of
what their libraries offer
33. 82%
85%
14%
11%
3%
2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Should definitely do Should maybe do Should definitely not do
Coordinate more closely with local schools in
providing resources to kids
Offer free early literacy programs to help
young children prepare for school
34. 53%
59%
61%
30%
28%
27%
5%
9%
9%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Should definitely do Should maybe do Should definitely not do
More comfortable spaces for reading, working, relaxing
Offer a broader selection of e-books
Separate spaces for different services
35. 41%
42%
43%
47%
36%
34%
39%
38%
20%
19%
14%
12%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Should definitely do Should maybe do Should definitely not do
Offer more interactive learning experiences similar to museums
Help users digitize material such as family photos / historical documents
Move most library services online so users can access them
without having to visit library
Make most services automated, so people can find what they need and
check out material on their own without help from staff
36. 18-29 yr olds,
smartphone owners,
know less about
libraries, whites
20% 39% 36%
Should definitely do Should maybe do Should definitely not do
Move some print books and stacks out of
public locations to free up more space for
things such as tech centers, reading rooms,
meetings rooms, and cultural events
Less active library
users, men, Af-Amer,
Latinos, teens, less
education, lower
income HH, no
computer
Internet users, more active /
knowledgeable patrons,
whites, those over 50, higher
income HH, full time workers,
parents of tweens, computer
owners, heavier book readers
(including e-book readers)
38. 33%
34%
35%
35%
37%
30%
28%
34%
28%
36%
35%
36%
29%
35%
26%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Very likely Somewhat likely Not too likely or not at all likely
Cell app to use to access library services
A tech “petting zoo” to try out new stuff
Cell GPS app to navigate library
Online research service – “ask a librarian”
Kiosks (“Redbox”) around town for lib. checkouts
39. 23%
26%
26%
28%
29%
28%
32%
32%
29%
35%
48%
40%
39%
41%
34%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Very likely Somewhat likely Not too likely or not at all likely
Pre-loaded e-book readers
Classes on how to download e-books
Personalize, Amazon-style recommendations
Digital media lab to digitize personal material
Instruction on how to use e-reading devices