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The Power and Relevance of Libraries

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Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

At the American Library Association's National Library Legislative Day, Pew Internet Director Lee Rainie will discuss 11 key takeaways from the Project's libraries research.

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The Power and Relevance of Libraries Takeaways from Pew Internet research Lee Rainie - @lrainie Director Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Presented to: ALA May 7, 2013
What is Pew? Say wha’: A “fact tank”? “Tell the truth, and trust the people” -- Joseph N. Pew, Jr. http://bit.ly/dUvWe3 http://bit.ly/100qMub
About our libraries research • Goal: To study the changing role of public libraries and library users in the digital age • Done in 3 phases – Changing state of reading – Changing mix of library services – Changing tastes of library patrons • Funded by a three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation libraries.pewinternet.org
11 key takeaways
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%20An%20American%20Commons/
1a) Libraries are especially appreciated by parents 94% of parents say libraries are important for their children and 79% describe libraries as “very important.” 84% of these parents say a major reason they want their children to have access to libraries is that libraries help inculcate their children’s love of reading and books. 81% say a major reason is that libraries provide their children with information and resources not available at home. 71% say a major reason is that libraries are a safe place for children.
7 2) Libraries stack up well vs. others How confident? How important?
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
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
4a) How people use in- library computers (26% do so) • 66% of those who used the internet at a library in the past 12 months did research for school or work. • 63% browsed the internet for fun or to pass the time. • 54% used email. • 47% got health information. • 41% visited government websites or got info about gov services. • 36% looked for jobs or applied for jobs online. • 35% visited social networking sites. • 26% downloaded or watched online video. • 16% bought a product online. • 16% paid bills or did online banking. • 16% took an online class completed online certification program.
4b) Who uses library websites
4c) Mobile connections now matter
Parents over-index on library use
The Power and Relevance of Libraries
5) E-book reading is growing; borrowing is just getting started Late 2011: 16% of American adults read an e-book in past year – now: 23% 2012: 5% of Americans 16+ have borrowed e- book from library in last year Growing awareness that this is library feature: now 31% of public
5a) E-reading devices spread out
5b) Advent of e-content spawns more reading and more reading “packages” 30% of e-content readers say they are reading more now The average reader of e- books has read 24 books (the mean number) in the past 12 months, compared with an average of 15 books by a non-e-book consumer. E-book readers read in ALL formats
5c) Reading is precious to parents • 50% of parents of children under age 12 read to their child every day • 26% do so a few times a week • 58% of parents with children under 6 read with their child every day
6) People are open to even more tech at libraries
6a) African-Americans and Latinos are esp. enthusiastic
Parents, too
The Power and Relevance of Libraries
7) The public invites you to be more engaged in knotty problems
8) Libraries have a PR problem / opportunity • 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
9) There is churn in library use Reasons library use INCREASED (26%) Enjoy taking their children, grandchildren 26% Do research and use reference materials 14% Borrow books more 12% Student 10% Use library computers and internet 8% Have more time to read now, retired 6% To save money 6% Good selection and variety 5% E-books, audio books, media are available 5% Convenient 5% Reading more now 5% Library events and activities 4% Good library and helpful staff 3% Quiet, relaxing time, social locale 2% Use for my job 2% Reasons library use DECREASED (22%) Can get books, do research online and the internet is more convenient 40% Library is not as useful because my children have grown, I'm retired, I'm no longer a student 16% Too busy, no time 12% Can't get to library, moved, don't know where library is 9% Prefer e-books 6% Prefer to buy books or get books from friends 5% Not interested 4% Health issues 3% Don't read much these days 3% Don't like local library or staff 3% Children are too young 2%
10) Mothers are special
11) There is a truly detached population out there that matters to you • 20% never saw a family member use a library when they were growing up • 16% have never visited a library • 23% didn’t read a book last 12 months
How you can help us • Sign up to participate in our research (and encourage your friends!): http://libraries.pewinternet.org/participate/ • Write us: What Pew Internet should study next
Libraries.pewinternet.org Lee Rainie Email: lrainie@pewinternet.org Twitter: @Lrainie Kathryn Zickuhr Email: kzickuhr@pewinternet.org Twitter: @kzickuhr Kristen Purcell Email: @kpurcell@pewinternet.org Twitter: @kristenpurcell

More Related Content

The Power and Relevance of Libraries

  • 1. The Power and Relevance of Libraries Takeaways from Pew Internet research Lee Rainie - @lrainie Director Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Presented to: ALA May 7, 2013
  • 2. What is Pew? Say wha’: A “fact tank”? “Tell the truth, and trust the people” -- Joseph N. Pew, Jr. http://bit.ly/dUvWe3 http://bit.ly/100qMub
  • 3. About our libraries research • Goal: To study the changing role of public libraries and library users in the digital age • Done in 3 phases – Changing state of reading – Changing mix of library services – Changing tastes of library patrons • Funded by a three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation libraries.pewinternet.org
  • 5. 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%20An%20American%20Commons/
  • 6. 1a) Libraries are especially appreciated by parents 94% of parents say libraries are important for their children and 79% describe libraries as “very important.” 84% of these parents say a major reason they want their children to have access to libraries is that libraries help inculcate their children’s love of reading and books. 81% say a major reason is that libraries provide their children with information and resources not available at home. 71% say a major reason is that libraries are a safe place for children.
  • 7. 7 2) Libraries stack up well vs. others How confident? How important?
  • 8. 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
  • 9. 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
  • 10. 4a) How people use in- library computers (26% do so) • 66% of those who used the internet at a library in the past 12 months did research for school or work. • 63% browsed the internet for fun or to pass the time. • 54% used email. • 47% got health information. • 41% visited government websites or got info about gov services. • 36% looked for jobs or applied for jobs online. • 35% visited social networking sites. • 26% downloaded or watched online video. • 16% bought a product online. • 16% paid bills or did online banking. • 16% took an online class completed online certification program.
  • 13. Parents over-index on library use
  • 15. 5) E-book reading is growing; borrowing is just getting started Late 2011: 16% of American adults read an e-book in past year – now: 23% 2012: 5% of Americans 16+ have borrowed e- book from library in last year Growing awareness that this is library feature: now 31% of public
  • 16. 5a) E-reading devices spread out
  • 17. 5b) Advent of e-content spawns more reading and more reading “packages” 30% of e-content readers say they are reading more now The average reader of e- books has read 24 books (the mean number) in the past 12 months, compared with an average of 15 books by a non-e-book consumer. E-book readers read in ALL formats
  • 18. 5c) Reading is precious to parents • 50% of parents of children under age 12 read to their child every day • 26% do so a few times a week • 58% of parents with children under 6 read with their child every day
  • 19. 6) People are open to even more tech at libraries
  • 20. 6a) African-Americans and Latinos are esp. enthusiastic
  • 23. 7) The public invites you to be more engaged in knotty problems
  • 24. 8) Libraries have a PR problem / opportunity • 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
  • 25. 9) There is churn in library use Reasons library use INCREASED (26%) Enjoy taking their children, grandchildren 26% Do research and use reference materials 14% Borrow books more 12% Student 10% Use library computers and internet 8% Have more time to read now, retired 6% To save money 6% Good selection and variety 5% E-books, audio books, media are available 5% Convenient 5% Reading more now 5% Library events and activities 4% Good library and helpful staff 3% Quiet, relaxing time, social locale 2% Use for my job 2% Reasons library use DECREASED (22%) Can get books, do research online and the internet is more convenient 40% Library is not as useful because my children have grown, I'm retired, I'm no longer a student 16% Too busy, no time 12% Can't get to library, moved, don't know where library is 9% Prefer e-books 6% Prefer to buy books or get books from friends 5% Not interested 4% Health issues 3% Don't read much these days 3% Don't like local library or staff 3% Children are too young 2%
  • 26. 10) Mothers are special
  • 27. 11) There is a truly detached population out there that matters to you • 20% never saw a family member use a library when they were growing up • 16% have never visited a library • 23% didn’t read a book last 12 months
  • 28. How you can help us • Sign up to participate in our research (and encourage your friends!): http://libraries.pewinternet.org/participate/ • Write us: What Pew Internet should study next
  • 29. Libraries.pewinternet.org Lee Rainie Email: lrainie@pewinternet.org Twitter: @Lrainie Kathryn Zickuhr Email: kzickuhr@pewinternet.org Twitter: @kzickuhr Kristen Purcell Email: @kpurcell@pewinternet.org Twitter: @kristenpurcell

Editor's Notes

  1. ©2010 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation