Results from the 2009 national survey of Ukrainian library visitation, by age.

1. Year 1 National Citizen Survey Results
BIBLIOSTATS
March 2010

2. LIBRARIES AND INTERNET USAGE BY
AGE GROUPS
From December 2009 to January 2010,
Bibliomist conducted a survey of citizens
across Ukraine to assess perceptions of
libraries, library usage and value, and
internet and computer usage and skills.
The survey aimed to create an accurate,
geographically and demographically
representative picture covering all of
Ukraine. Bibliomist conducted in-person
interviews of 2530 people, distributed
among every oblast and among
population centers of all densities.
* Survey of Ukrainians ages 14+

3. LIBRARIES AND INTERNET
USAGE BY AGE GROUPS
Youth are more likely to visit Interest in Internet and Computers
libraries, are more likely to
in Libraries by Age I am
check out books, and are interested in
significantly more likely to have 69%
using free
public library
experience with computers and 60% 57% internet
the internet. 50%
42%
34% I would likely
Older citizens are less likely to 16%
attend a free
computer
visit the library, and are less 13%
course in my
likely to attend free computer library
courses in the library or visit the 14-29 30-44 45-59 60+
library were it to receive new
computers.
* Survey of Ukrainians ages 14+

4. LIBRARIES AND INTERNET
USAGE BY AGE GROUPS Internet Usage over the Last Month by Age
64.4%
Children under 13 are by far 42.4%
Ukraine’s strongest library 20.9%
6.3%
users, with 54.5% having visited
14-29 30-44 45-59 60+
a library within the last year.
After age 13, the library
visitation rate decreases
Library Visitation over the Last Year by Age
rapidly. Youth are the most
likely to have advanced skills in 54.5%
38.6%
computers and the internet. As 21.7% 18.1%
expected, youth are far more 12.7%
likely than adults to have used 6-13 14-29 30-44 45-59 60+
the internet within the last
month.

5. Youth ages 14-26 tend to use libraries for leisure activities, including
finding new and interesting books, finding information about hobbies,
skills and other personal interests, and meeting with other people.
With low expectations about libraries, youth—as other populations—are
very satisfied with the present level of services, but it is notable that
they are more likely to see libraries as a source of relevant information
and a place where computers and the internet can be accessed than
are other groups.

6. Public Libraries Should Be...
17%
14-29
Years
11%
10% 10%
7%
6% Average
across
all age
groups
A place where I A place where A place where
can get up-to- one can access people can use
date information the internet for computers for
for school or free free
work
Youth are also significantly more interested in using the internet and
computers in their public libraries, and would be more likely to attend
a free computer course in their libraries.

7. PRELIMINARY IMPLICATIONS
Because youth are the most frequent users, the
most likely to use the internet, and the most likely
to attend computer courses, they are likely to be
the easiest target of library outreach. Youth are
also the most ready to see the library for different
services, as they are currently the most frequent
users for libraries for non-book activities.
Moreover, because of their higher visitation rates,
they are more likely to be advocates for the library.
As has already been seen in some libraries, youth
can serve as volunteers and for outreach for
libraries. To take advantage of this low-hanging
fruit, librarians can specifically target youth in
advertising new services, and are likely to easily
gain a committed constituency.

8. PRELIMINARY IMPLICATIONS (CON’T)
As expected, attracting older community residents to the
library will be more difficult. However, given the
stereotypes present in Ukraine associating technology with
youth, successes with older users will be more profound and
serve as an important marketing tool. Librarians will clearly
need to make intensive efforts to bring in older users, and by
doing so, demonstrate trends that reverse the figures
presented above.
When such numbers become available, they will become an
indispensable tool for library advocacy, supporting the
argument that when library services improve and information
and technology are made accessible, libraries as an
institution become more useful to the entire community and
can break out of their currently narrowly-defined role

9. Contact:
Web: www.bibliomist.org & www.irex.org/programs/gl/index.asp
Email: gl@irex.org
Blog: www.irexgl.wordpress.com