This document discusses four generations - Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. It provides characteristics of each generation and how best to communicate with them. Generation Y is identified as the largest user of public libraries. The document also covers trends in communication methods used by different generations, such as texting surpassing phone calls and the growth of social media use. It aims to provide information on reaching different generations through various online and offline channels.

1. Generation 4.0
Working @ the Intersection
of People and Technology
Erin Logsdon
Consultant, Digital Solutions
NELINET, Inc.

2. What is a generation?
• All the people living at the same time or
of approximately the same age.
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2028762948&size=m http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=525742850&size=m

3. Source: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=361142443&size=o

4. 4 Generations
• Traditionalists
– 1925-1942
• Baby Boomers
– 1943-1960
• Generation X
– 1961-1981
• Generation Y
– 1982-2002 http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=35724835&size=m

5. Traditionalists

6. Communication
Boomer & Gen X Traditionalists
• Honor the chain of command
• Offer them job security
• Value their experience
• Appreciate their dedication
Source: http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/WL/00045.html

7. Baby Boomers

8. Generation X

9. Communication
Boomer --> Generation X
• Get to the point
• Use e-mail
• Give them space
• Get over the notion of dues paying
• Lighten up
Source: http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/WL/00045.html

10. http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=474399662&size=m
What do they want?
&
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=581816877&size=m

11. Source: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=19861632&size=l

12. Generation Y

13. Communication
Boomer & Gen X Gen Y
• Challenge them
• Ask them their opinion
• Find them a mentor
• Provide timely feedback
Source: http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/WL/00045.html

14. Source: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=431708434&size=m
What do they want?
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=131488403&size=m

15. http://www.us.randstad.com/2008WorldofWork.pdf

16. Librarians by Age
http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/reports/membership_younger.pdf

17. Where did they go?

18. Technology View
• Anything that is in the world when you were
born is normal and ordinary and is just a
natural way the world works.
• Anything that is invented between the time
when you are 15 to 35 is new, revolutionary,
and exciting, and you can possibly get a career
in it.
• Anything invented after you are 35 is against
the natural order of things.
» Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

19. Online over time

20. COMMUNICATION

21. How can I reach you?
• Phone
• Web
• Email
• IM
• Text Messaging
• Twitter
• RSS
• Print
• In Person
• Facebook/MySpace

22. Email is
Dead!
Long Live
Email!

23. OMG!
In the fourth quarter of 2007,
American cellphone subscribers
for the first time sent text
messages more than they phoned,
according to Nielsen Mobile. Since
then, the average subscriber’s
volume of text messages has shot
upward by 64 percent, while the
average number of calls has
dropped slightly.
Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/technology/29drill.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&pa
rtner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1222650007-
Xrmxs+XS6Lh4rxM9s9uCMQ&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

24. Instant Messaging
1.7 billion
Instant Messages sent across
AOL's messaging networks
(AIM and ICQ) each day,
during the quarter ended
June 30, 2007
http://corp.aol.com/whoweare/facts.shtml

25. Facebook had
44 million+
unique visitors in October 2008
Source: http://siteanalytics.compete.com/myspace.com+facebook.com/?metric=uv

26. Media in the Lives of 8-18 year-olds
Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 year-olds, Executive Summary

27. Media in the Lives of 8-18 year-olds
Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 year-olds, Executive Summary

28. Integration

29. Quiz Time!
Which generation is the largest
user of public libraries?

30. Generation Y!
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/231/report_display.asp

31. http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/Pew_UI_LibrariesReport.pdf

32. The IMLS National Study on the Use
of Libraries, Museums and the
Internet
http://interconnectionsreport.org/

33. Image Source: Cayusa

34. Questions?
Contact Info:
Erin Logsdon
logsdon@nelinet.net
508.597.1946
Additional Info: Source: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=327122302&size=m
http://del.icio.us/taxonomylady/generations