The Libraries Of The Future
A survey of 2,796 Americans threw up some rather startling results.
About 53% claim to have visited a library in the past year, with the biggest users being between 18 and 30 years of age.
Admittedly, more than two-thirds of library visitors in all age groups said they used computers while at the library, which shows the way forward for libraries if they want to retain their audience, but these results go contrary to previous findings, which predicted the decline of the library. According to the survey, Internet users were more than twice as likely to frequent libraries as non-Internet users - an indication that Internet users seem to be the information seekers, and thus libraries would have to now tailor their offerings around the needs of this segment.
Public libraries now offer virtual homework help, special gaming software programs, and some librarians even have created characters in the Second Life virtual world.
The survey showed 62 percent of Generation Y (aged 18 to 30) respondents said they visited a public library in the past year, with a steady decline in usage according to age. Some 57 percent of adults aged 43 to 52 said they visited a library in 2007, followed by 46 percent of adults aged 53 to 61; 42 percent of adults aged 62 to 71; and just 32 percent of adults over 72.
[Via]
Filed under: Digital culture