FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January 2, 2008
Survey
Challenges Belief that the Internet Reduces Library Use
WASHINGTON, DC—Although
the Internet is increasingly important as a source of
information for a majority of Americans, most adults still
use libraries, according to a new survey by the Pew Internet
& American Life Project and the University of Illinois.
The survey, Information Searches That Solve Problems:
How People Use the Internet, Government Agencies, and
Libraries When They Need Help, was funded by the
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary
source of federal funding for U.S. museums and libraries.
The survey of 2,796 Americans looked at
overall library use and library use for solving problems
related to subjects such as health care, education, taxes,
and job searches, etc.
More than half of American adults said they
had visited a local public library in the past 12 months.
Public library users tend to be younger adults, with higher
incomes, who have attended college. Among respondents
in Generation Y (18-30), 62% visited a library in the
past year, and among respondents in Generation X (31 to
42), 59% visited a library in the past year. Of those
with incomes more than $40,000 a year, 59% had visited
a library compared to 48% of those with incomes less than
$40,000. The greater one’s level of education achievement,
the more likely one is to go to the library, according
to the survey. For example, 68% of those with a college
degree had been to the library in the past year compared
to 44% of those with a high school diploma and 57% who
attended college but did not get a degree. Among the most
frequent library users were young families; 63% of parents
with children visited the library, compared to 48% of
those without children at home.
“The reports of public libraries’
death due to the rise of the Internet have been greatly
exaggerated,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, PhD, Director
of the IMLS. “I urge those who encounter obstacles
in their Internet searches or who are looking for additional
resources, to acquaint themselves with their local library
professionals. They are an information army trained to
search for answers online and in the stacks.”
One in eight people turned to their local
public library for help solving problems. Of those who
visited a library, 68% used the computer at the library.
In addressing their specific problems, 65% use the computer
to look up information on the Internet, 62% used the computer
to check on library materials, 58% use library reference
materials, and 42% read newspapers and magazines.
Seven in 10 library visitors received assistance
from library staff. Of those who received help at the
library, 88% say they found a lot or some of what they
were seeking. By contrast, among those who did not seek
help at the library, only 53% found a lot or some of what
they were seeking. Nearly four in five visitors (79%)
say they were very satisfied with the assistance they
received from the library staff, and 19% say there were
satisfied.
Libraries’ potential customers skew
towards younger people. The highest rate of use of those
who visited libraries for help solving problems were among
young people with high Internet access but low incomes
because they are still in school or starting out in lower
paid jobs, according to the survey. Among Generation Y
(18-30), 40% said they are very likely or somewhat likely
to visit a library in the future when faced with a problem
compared to 25% of Generation X (31-41). Also likely to
visit the library if faced with a problem in the future
were African Americans (50%) and Latinos (42%), compared
to 24% of white Americans.
A key challenge for libraries is to make
sure that those who consider the library as a potential
problem-solving resource recognize that libraries offer
not only Internet access but a host of other assets such
as trained staff and reference materials, the survey suggests.
For a copy of the report, please click on:
http://www.pewInternet.org/PPF/r/231/report_display.asp.
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About the Pew Internet & American
Life Project
The Project produces reports that explore the social impact
of the Internet on families, communities, work and home,
daily life, education, health care, and civic and political
life. Support for the project is provided by The Pew Charitable
Trusts. The project is an initiative of the Pew Research
Center. To learn more, visit www.pewinternet.org.
About the Library Research Center
The Library Research Center, a unit of the Graduate School
for Library and Information Science, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign:
The School is the top-ranked such in the United States,
according to U.S. News and World Report (2006). Established
as a unit of GSLIS in 1961 to provide statistical support
for state and public libraries, the LRC focuses on library
trends, community analyses for libraries and policy outcomes.
Its clients include members of the publishing industry,
library vendors, library associations, individual libraries,
government agencies, foundation and others. To learn more,
visit http://lrc.lis.uiuc.edu.
About the Institute of Museum and
Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary
source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000
libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission
is to create strong libraries and museums that connect
people to information and ideas. The Institute works at
the national level and in coordination with state and
local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and
knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support
professional development. To learn more about the Institute,
please visit www.imls.gov.
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