Libraries and communities

Libraries and communities

Lee Rainie - @lrainie

Director, Pew Research Center’s Internet Project

Presented to: New England Library Association

October 21, 2013

“Tell the truth, and trust the people” -- Joseph N. Pew, Jr.

http://bit.ly/dUvWe3

http://bit.ly/100qMub

What is the Pew Internet Project? Number Of Users Who Actually Enjoy Facebook Down To 4

A comprehensive and groundbreaking new report released Monday by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project has found that only four users of Facebook derive pleasure of any kind from the popular social networking website. According to the report, the remainder of the 950 million people registered with Facebook, despite using the site on a regular basis, take no joy in doing so, and in fact feel a profound sense of hopelessness and despair immediately upon logging in…

.... “As it turns out, the vast majority of human beings tend to become depressed when they see the past five years of their life summarized right there in front of them in a sad little timeline,” said lead researcher John Elliott.

My six points

1. Libraries are deeply appreciated at the community level

2. Libraries have a PR problem

3. Libraries are well used by some groups and are quite removed from others

4. Libraries have a mandate to intervene

5. The signals about what the public wants in the future from libraries are mixed

6. Reinvention is a community contact sport

My six points

1. Libraries are deeply appreciated at the community level

2. Libraries have a PR problem

3. Libraries are well used by some groups and are quite removed from others

4. Libraries have a mandate to intervene

5. The signals about what the public wants in the future from libraries are mixed

6. Reinvention is a community contact sport

Libraries are perceived as important

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

/

Quick news flash: New preliminary data

• Having a public library improves the quality of life in a community

• Public libraries are important because they promote literacy and a love of reading

• Because it provides free access to materials and resources, the public library plays an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed

• Public libraries provide many services people would have a hard time finding elsewhere

---- • Disagree: Public libraries have NOT done a good

job keeping up with new technologies

… more …

• Split verdict: People do NOT need public libraries as much as they used to because they can find most information on their own

9

Libraries stack up well vs. others How confident? How important?

63 28 Library to community

People like librarians

• 98% of “ever” library visitors say interactions are “very/mostly positive”

• 81% of library visitors say librarians are “very helpful”

• 50% of “last year” visitors got help from a librarian

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

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.

My six points

1. Libraries are deeply appreciated at the community level

2. Libraries have a PR problem

3. Libraries are well used by some groups and are quite removed from others

4. Libraries have a mandate to intervene

5. The signals about what the public wants in the future from libraries are mixed

6. Reinvention is a community contact sport

Many of their patrons and biggest fans can’t answer the Marvin

Gaye question …

What’s going on?

• 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

Library non-users who are fans and should be primed to listen

53%

75% 76% 84%

91%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Used library last12 months

Read a book inpast 12 months

Library isimportant to

me/family

Ever visitedlibrary

Library isimportant tocommunity

22% 23% 31% 38%

My six points

1. Libraries are deeply appreciated at the community level

2. Libraries have a PR problem

3. Libraries are well used by some groups and are quite removed from others

4. Libraries have a mandate to intervene

5. The signals about what the public wants in the future from libraries are mixed

6. Reinvention is a community contact spor

Library users

% who have visited a library or bookmobile in

person in the past year

All Americans ages 16+ 53%

a Men (n=1,059) 48%

b Women (n=1,193) 59a

Age

a 16-17 (n=101) 62%de

b 18-29 (n=369) 57%e

c 30-49 (n=586) 59%de

d 50-64 (n=628) 51%e

e 65+ (n=531) 40%

Education attainment

a No high school diploma (n=254) 43%

b High school grad (n=610) 46%

c Some College (n=562) 58%ab

d College + (n=812) 63%ab

Parent of minor

a Parent (n=584) 64%b

b Non-parent (n=1,667) 49%

53%

59%

40%

58% 63%

64%

Who uses library

websites

Mobile connections now matter

My six points

1. Libraries are deeply appreciated at the community level

2. Libraries have a PR problem

3. Libraries are well used by some groups and are quite removed from others

4. Libraries have a mandate to intervene

5. The signals about what the public wants in the future from libraries are mixed

6. Reinvention is a community contact spor

Coordinate more closely with local schools in providing resources to kids

Offer free early literacy programs to help young children prepare for school

77%

77%

17%

19%

3%

3%

Should definitely do Maybe do Definitely NOT do

53%

59%

61%

30%

28%

27%

5%

9%

9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Should definitely do Should maybe do Should definitely not do

More comfortable spaces for reading, working, relaxing

Offer a broader selection of e-books

Separate spaces for different services

My six points

1. Libraries are deeply appreciated at the community level

2. Libraries have a PR problem

3. Libraries are well used by some groups and are quite removed from others

4. Libraries have a mandate to intervene

5. The signals about what the public wants in the future from libraries are mixed

6. Reinvention is a community contact spor

20% 39% 36%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Should definitely do Should maybe do Should definitely not do

Move some print books and stacks out of public locations to free up more space for

things such as tech centers, reading rooms, meetings rooms, and cultural events

33%

34%

35%

35%

37%

30%

28%

34%

28%

36%

35%

36%

29%

35%

26%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very likely Somewhat likely Not too likely or not at all likely

Cell app to use to access library services

A tech “petting zoo” to try out new stuff

Cell GPS app to navigate library

Online research service – “ask a librarian”

Kiosks (“Redbox”) around town for lib. checkouts

23%

26%

26%

28%

29%

28%

32%

32%

29%

35%

48%

40%

39%

41%

34%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very likely Somewhat likely Not too likely or not at all likely

Pre-loaded e-book readers

Classes on how to download e-books

Personalize, Amazon-style recommendations

Digital media lab to digitize personal material

Instruction on how to use e-reading devices

My six points

1. Libraries are deeply appreciated at the community level

2. Libraries have a PR problem

3. Libraries are well used by some groups and are quite removed from others

4. Libraries have a mandate to intervene

5. The signals about what the public wants in the future from libraries are mixed

6. Reinvention is a community contact spor

“Market shortcomings” librarians could address

“Market shortcomings ”: Examples of community issues librarians could address

1) Technology non-users - skills training in new literacies

2) Pre-school programs 3) After school activities 4) English as a Second Language issues 5) Lifelong learning opportunities / credentialing

competency 6) Fill gaps in local media ecosystem – community

and civic information/curation 7) Help for small business / entrepreneurs / non-

profits 8) Serendipity agents of discovery

Be not afraid

Libraries.pewinternet.org Lee Rainie Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Lrainie Kathryn Zickuhr Email: [email protected] Twitter: @kzickuhr

Kristen Purcell Email: @[email protected] Twitter: @kristenpurcell