How libraries can survive in the new media ecosystem

How libraries can survive in the new media ecosystem Lee Rainie – Director Pew Internet Project HELIN Library Consortium Bryant University January 14, 2009

"If you plopped a library down. . .30 years from now. . .there would be cobwebs growing everywhere because people would look at it and wouldn't think of it as a legitimate institution because it would be so far behind. . ." -- Experienced library user 1996 Benton Foundation report: “ Buildings, books, and bytes”

“ Many Americans would just as soon turn their local libraries into museums and recruit retirees to staff them.” 1996 Benton Foundation report: “ Buildings, books, and bytes”

New information ecosystem: Then and Now Industrial Age Info was: Scarce Expensive Institutionally oriented Designed for consumption Information Age Info is: Abundant Cheap Personally oriented Designed for participation

2000 46% of adults use internet 5% with broadband at home 50% own a cell phone 0% connect to internet wirelessly <10% use “cloud” = slow, stationary connections built around my computer 2008 74% of adults use internet 58% with broadband at home 82% own a cell phone 62% connect to internet wirelessly >53% use “cloud” = fast, mobile connections built around outside servers and storage The internet is the asteroid: Then and now

Ecosystem change – 1
Volume of information grows

… and the “long tail” becomes more important -- Chris Anderson Traffic Content 20%-40% of traffic or sales in the “long tail” Amazon, Rhapsody/iTunes, Netflix

Variety of information and sources of information grow

… and people have more options for their passions -- Markus Prior

The internet rises in a fragmented media environment (% of all Americans who “regularly” go to news source: PRC People/Press) +1,850% -25% -52% +18% -41% -27%

Internet and broadband adoption 1995-2008 Internet users Broadband at home

Velocity of information increases and smart mobs emerge
-- Howard Rheingold

Venues of intersecting with information and people multiply and the availability of information expands to all hours of the day and all places we are
-- Nielsen Company

People’s vigilance for information changes in two directions:
1) attention is truncated (Linda Stone)
2) attention is elongated (Andrew Keen; Terry Fisher)

Kaiser Family Foundation, Media Multitasking Among American Youth, December 2006

The vibrance and immersive qualities of media environments makes them more compelling places to hang out and interact
-- Metaverse Roadmap Project
1) Virtual Worlds

2) Mirror Worlds

3) Augmented Reality

4) Life-logging

Valence (relevance) of information improves – search and customization get better as we create the “Daily Me” and “Daily Us”
– Nicholas Negroponte

The voice of information democratizes and the visibility of new creators is enhanced. Identity and privacy change.
-- William Dutton

Voting on and ventilating about information proliferates as tagging, rating, and commenting occurs and collective intelligence asserts itself
-- Henry Jenkins
David Weinberger

37% of young adult internet users have rated a person, product, or service online
---
32% of all adults have done so
Information sharing and evaluation

Social networks become more vivid and meaningful. That changes the structure of friendship and the basic norms of human encounters. “Networked individualism” takes hold.
-- Barry Wellman

Action item
Be findable.
Be available – timelines are fading.

Action item
Think of yourself as a news node for information and interaction.
---
Prepare for the “big bang” moment.

Action item Think of yourself as a social network node for people looking for “friendsters” --- The internet is “personified” in some people’s lives and you can provide information and social support in the same ways social networks can

Action item
Think of yourself as an information hub -- an aggregator and a linker to others who have useful, interesting material
---
Links are the currency of the internet, partnerships/affiliate relations are the norm. That’s how you build social capital.

Action item
Experiment with Web 2.0 applications – blogs, wikis, tagging, reputation/rating, widgets, and social networking
---
Watch your usage data and the psychographics of users. Solicit feedback and show you are listening to responses

Action item
Offer your good offices to help people master new literacies
-- MacArthur Foundation “Digital Learning” project
Library blogger Pam Berger

Graphic literacy
Thinking visually and mastering the “language of the screen” and visual representation of information
New literacies

Navigation literacy
Learning to maneuver through a non-linear, hypertext environment that can be disorganized
New literacies

Context literacy
Seeing the connections among pieces of data and information in a hypermedia environment
New literacies

Focus literacy
Practicing reflection and deep thinking – and enjoying leisure and daydreaming
New literacies

Skepticism literacy
Learning to evaluate information and how to assess its accuracy and sourcing
New literacies

Ethical literacy
Understanding the rules of cyberspace, living responsibly, and helping set civil norms
New literacies

Personal literacy
Understanding your digital identity and digital footprints; managing your privacy and self presentation
New literacies

Thank you!
Lee Rainie
Director
Pew Internet & American Life Project
1615 L Street NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
[email_address]
202-419-4500

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How libraries can survive in the new media ecosystem

by Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project on Mar 26, 2009

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How libraries can survive in the new media ecosystem — Presentation Transcript