The document presents findings from Pew Research Center regarding the evolving role of public libraries in the digital age, emphasizing their importance to communities and families, particularly parents. Key takeaways include a high appreciation for libraries, a significant shift towards technology use, and an increase in e-book borrowing among patrons. Despite challenges in awareness of library services, there is a general openness to technological advancements and community engagement within libraries.

1. The Power and Relevance of Libraries
Takeaways from Pew Internet research
Lee Rainie - @lrainie
Director
Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project
Presented to: ALA
May 7, 2013

2. What is Pew? Say wha’: A “fact tank”?
“Tell the truth, and trust
the people”
-- Joseph N. Pew, Jr.
http://bit.ly/dUvWe3
http://bit.ly/100qMub

3. About our libraries research
• Goal: To study the changing role of public
libraries and library users in the digital age
• Done in 3 phases
– Changing state of reading
– Changing mix of library services
– Changing tastes of library patrons
• Funded by a three-year grant from the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation
libraries.pewinternet.org

4. 11 key takeaways

5. 1) Libraries are appreciated
91% say libraries are
important to their
communities
76% say libraries are
important to them and
their families
Robert Dawson photography - Library Road Trip
http://www.robertdawson.com/pages/1/Public%20Library%3a%20An%20American%20Commons/Public%20Library%3a%20An%20American%20Commons/

6. 1a) Libraries are especially appreciated by parents
94% of parents say libraries are important
for their children and 79% describe
libraries as “very important.”
84% of these parents say a major reason
they want their children to have access
to libraries is that libraries help inculcate
their children’s love of reading and
books.
81% say a major reason is that libraries
provide their children with information
and resources not available at home.
71% say a major reason is that libraries are
a safe place for children.

7. 7
2) Libraries stack up well vs. others
How confident? How important?

8. 3) People like librarians
• 98% of “ever” library visitors say interactions are “very positive”
• 81% of library visitors say librarians are “very helpful”
• 50% of “last year” visitors got help from a librarian

9. 4) Libraries have rebranded
themselves as tech hubs
80% of Americans say
borrowing books is a
“very important” service
libraries provide
80% say reference librarians
are a “very important”
service
77% say free access to
computers and the
internet is a “very
important” service
76% say quiet study spaces
are a “very important”
service

10. 4a) How people use in- library computers (26% do so)
• 66% of those who used the internet at a library in the past 12
months did research for school or work.
• 63% browsed the internet for fun or to pass the time.
• 54% used email.
• 47% got health information.
• 41% visited government websites or got info about gov services.
• 36% looked for jobs or applied for jobs online.
• 35% visited social networking sites.
• 26% downloaded or watched online video.
• 16% bought a product online.
• 16% paid bills or did online banking.
• 16% took an online class completed online certification program.

11. 4b) Who
uses library
websites

12. 4c) Mobile
connections
now matter

13. Parents over-index on library use

15. 5) E-book reading is growing;
borrowing is just getting started
Late 2011: 16% of
American adults read
an e-book in past year –
now: 23%
2012: 5% of Americans
16+ have borrowed e-
book from library in last
year
Growing awareness that
this is library feature:
now 31% of public

16. 5a) E-reading devices spread out

17. 5b) Advent of e-content spawns more
reading and more reading “packages”
30% of e-content readers
say they are reading
more now
The average reader of e-
books has read 24 books
(the mean number) in
the past 12 months,
compared with an
average of 15 books by a
non-e-book consumer.
E-book readers read in ALL
formats

18. 5c) Reading is precious to parents
• 50% of parents of
children under age
12 read to their
child every day
• 26% do so a few
times a week
• 58% of parents
with children under
6 read with their
child every day

19. 6) People are open to even more tech at libraries

20. 6a) African-Americans and Latinos are esp.
enthusiastic

21. Parents, too

23. 7) The public invites you to be more
engaged in knotty problems

24. 8) Libraries have a PR problem /
opportunity
• 22% say that they know
all or most of the
services their libraries
offer
• 46% say they know
some of what their
libraries offer
• 31% said they know not
much or nothing at all
of what their libraries
offer

25. 9) There is churn in library use
Reasons library use INCREASED (26%)
Enjoy taking their children, grandchildren 26%
Do research and use reference materials 14%
Borrow books more 12%
Student 10%
Use library computers and internet 8%
Have more time to read now, retired 6%
To save money 6%
Good selection and variety 5%
E-books, audio books, media are available 5%
Convenient 5%
Reading more now 5%
Library events and activities 4%
Good library and helpful staff 3%
Quiet, relaxing time, social locale 2%
Use for my job 2%
Reasons library use DECREASED (22%)
Can get books, do research online and
the internet is more convenient
40%
Library is not as useful because my
children have grown, I'm retired, I'm no
longer a student
16%
Too busy, no time 12%
Can't get to library, moved, don't know
where library is
9%
Prefer e-books 6%
Prefer to buy books or get books from
friends
5%
Not interested 4%
Health issues 3%
Don't read much these days 3%
Don't like local library or staff 3%
Children are too young 2%

26. 10) Mothers are special

27. 11) There is a truly detached population out
there that matters to you
• 20% never saw a
family member use a
library when they
were growing up
• 16% have never
visited a library
• 23% didn’t read a
book last 12 months

28. How you can help us
• Sign up to participate in our research
(and encourage your friends!):
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/participate/
• Write us: What Pew Internet should
study next

29. Libraries.pewinternet.org
Lee Rainie
Email: lrainie@pewinternet.org
Twitter: @Lrainie
Kathryn Zickuhr
Email: kzickuhr@pewinternet.org
Twitter: @kzickuhr
Kristen Purcell
Email: @kpurcell@pewinternet.org
Twitter: @kristenpurcell