Reinventing of Libraries The keys to the future in 7 questions Lee Rainie Director Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Presented to: Massachusetts Library System June 13, 2013

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

The big questions 1.What’s the future of knowledge? 2.What’s the future of reference expertise? 3.What’s the future of public technology? 4.What’s the future of learning spaces? 5.What’s the future of community anchor institutions? 6.What’s the franchise?

Q7: Where do we fit on the dashboard? ALA’s “Confronting the Future”“Confronting the Future” Totally physical (facilities and media) Individual focus Collection library (physical and virtual) Portal Everything for everyone Totally virtual (facilities and media) Community focus Creation library (social, maker space) Archive Specialized niche

5 big reasons your foundation is solid

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 /

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

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

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

Sidebar on tech adoption Broadband (68%)/ Internet (85%) 3%

Sidebar on tech adoption Mobile – 91% … smartphone 56% … tablets 34% Total U.S. population: 319 million 2012

Sidebar on tech adoption Social networking – 61% of all adults 72% of internet users

SNS Users Which groups are most likely? Internet users under most likely of any demographic cohort (83%) Women Urban more likely than rural

Facebook Users Facebook remains the most-used SNS platform – two-thirds of online adults are Facebook users (67%) Which groups are most likely? Women Those under 50, especially 18-29

Twitter Users 16% of internet users are on Twitter this has doubled since Nov Which groups are most likely? Those under 50, especially African-Americans are more likely than whites Urban-dwellers

Pinterest Users 15% of internet users are on Pinterest Which groups are most likely? Whites Under 50 – do not stand out Well-educated Higher Income Women - 5x more likely than men

Instagram Users 13% of internet users are on Instagram Which groups are most likely? Women Those under 50, especially African-Americans and Hispanics more likely than whites Urban-dwellers

Tumblr Users Just 6% of internet users are on Tumblr Which groups are most likely? Those (13%)

5) Reading is alive and well 75% of those ages 16 and older read a book in the previous year, including 23% who read an e-book 15 is the mean/average number of books read in past 12 months and median/midpoint is 6 24 is mean/average for e-book readers 30% of e-content consumers who are reading more now because e-content is available 41% for tablet owners 5% of those 16+ have borrowed an e-book from a library – and they are book buyers, too!

1 big PR problem that is not hard to fix

Answer the Marvin Gaye question 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

How to fix: Go to already-affectionate publics 22% 23% 31% 38%

What they want you to do

Coordinate more closely with local schools in providing resources to kids Offer free early literacy programs to help young children prepare for school

More comfortable spaces for reading, working, relaxing Offer a broader selection of e-books Separate spaces for different services

Offer more interactive learning experiences similar to museums Help users digitize material such as family photos / historical documents Move most library services online so users can access them without having to visit library Make most services automated, so people can find what they need and check out material on their own without help from staff

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

What they say they’d use

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

Be not afraid

Libraries.pewinternet.org Lee Rainie Kathryn Zickuhr Kristen Purcell

Further thoughts on the big questions

Q1: What is the future of knowledge? How is it created? What are its interfaces? How is it disseminated? Homework: Too Big To KnowToo Big To Know David Weinberger

Q2: What is the future of reference expertise? How do you search for information? How do you aggregate / curate it? What new literacies are required to understand it? Homework: Danny Sullivan & Co.

Q3: What is the future of public technology What is the future of knowledge access points? What divides persist / emerge? What lending models are enabled in a new era of property / subscription / sharing? Homework: Confronting the Future: Strategic Visions for the 21 st Century Public LibraryConfronting the Future: Strategic Visions for the 21 st Century Public Library Roger Levien

Q4: What is the future of learning spaces What fosters collaboration? Creativity? Problem solving? What is the role of solitude and quiet spaces? What other alliances can you strike with institutions that share your goals about providing key information to your community? Homework: A New Culture of LearningA New Culture of Learning Douglas Thomas & John Seely Brown

Q5: What is the future of community anchor institutions Does local matter? What does our community need? Homework: Informing Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital AgeInforming Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities

Q6: What’s the franchise? What’s the commodity? Homework: The Innovators DilemmaThe Innovators Dilemma The Innovators Solution Clayton Christensen, Michael Raynor