1) The information ecosystem has dramatically changed from the industrial age to the information age, with information now being abundant, cheap, personally oriented and designed for participation rather than consumption. 2) This has disrupted libraries and challenged their role as key information institutions, as people now have many more options for accessing and sharing information through new digital technologies and online platforms. 3) For libraries to remain relevant, the document recommends that they embrace their role as hubs for information, social networking, and developing new media literacies to help people navigate the modern information landscape.

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

3. "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”

4. “ 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”

5. 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

6. 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

7. Ecosystem change – 1 Volume of information grows

8. … 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

10. Ecosystem change – 2 Variety of information and sources of information grow

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

12. 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%

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

14. Ecosystem change – 3 Velocity of information increases and smart mobs emerge -- Howard Rheingold

15. Ecosystem change – 4 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

16. Ecosystem change – 5 People’s vigilance for information changes in two directions: 1) attention is truncated (Linda Stone) 2) attention is elongated (Andrew Keen; Terry Fisher)

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

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

19. Ecosystem change – 6 The vibrance and immersive qualities of media environments makes them more compelling places to hang out and interact -- Metaverse Roadmap Project 1) Virtual Worlds

20. Ecosystem change – 6 The vibrance and immersive qualities of media environments makes them more compelling places to hang out and interact -- Metaverse Roadmap Project 2) Mirror Worlds

21. Ecosystem change – 6 The vibrance and immersive qualities of media environments makes them more compelling places to hang out and interact -- Metaverse Roadmap Project 3) Augmented Reality

22. Ecosystem change – 6 The vibrance and immersive qualities of media environments makes them more compelling places to hang out and interact -- Metaverse Roadmap Project 4) Life-logging

23. Ecosystem change – 7 Valence (relevance) of information improves – search and customization get better as we create the “Daily Me” and “Daily Us” – Nicholas Negroponte

24. Ecosystem change – 8 The voice of information democratizes and the visibility of new creators is enhanced. Identity and privacy change. -- William Dutton

25. Ecosystem change – 9 Voting on and ventilating about information proliferates as tagging, rating, and commenting occurs and collective intelligence asserts itself -- Henry Jenkins David Weinberger

26. 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

27. Ecosystem change – 10 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

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

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

30. 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

31. 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.

32. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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