Patterns of Behaviour in Metropolitan Libraries - how patrons use their library Sentio Research Norge March 2008

Background and goal What do library patrons do while in the library? The background for this survey is that libraries are in a process of change: –circulation is going down –somewhat fewer visitors to the library Focus –how patrons use the library in addition to borrowing materials –the library’s function as an arena for learning and an informal meeting place

Method - Observation Quantitative - counting Observation of a selection of library patrons from the point their visits began until they ended, including their: –activities –use of time –gender –age –language Carried out in the public libraries in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, and Trondheim Representative selection of patrons

The selection 3337 observations were made 53 per cent women and 47 per cent men Most were between the ages of 19 – 30 and languages were registered –79 per cent spoke Norwegian –10 per cent spoke a non-Western language –9 per cent spoke a Western language Use of time at the library –52 per cent spent fewer than 15 minutes at the library –Average visit was 35 minutes

Patron profiles ”regular” patrons (those who came to borrow material) those who came to study or work those who came to use Internet those who came to read newspapers or magazines those who came to use the library as a social meeting place –Use of the library is complex

”Regular” patrons 46 were ”regular” patrons –43 per cent of these only borrowed material, while the remaining 3 per cent also engaged in other activities this group spent an average of 18 minutes in the library Their activities were: –activities directly connected to the borrowing process, for the most part –21 per cent were together with others –11 per cent used computers, 4 per cent used Internet –10 per cent read or wrote –5 per cent read newspapers or magazines –3 prosent studied or worked for at least 30 minutes

Of those who studied or worked… 11 per cent engaged in one of these activities for at least 30 minutes the average amount of time spent in the library was 2 hours Their activities: –25 per cent were together with others –25 per cent browsed the shelves –18 per cent made contact with a library employee –11 per cent borrowed material –11 per cent spent some of their time without using any of the library’s services –5 per cent used Internet –2 per cent read newspapers or magazines

Of those who came to go online… 13 per cent used the computers on offer by the library they spent on average 47 minutes in the library Their activities: –29 per cent were together with others –27 per cent browsed the shelves –23 per cent made contact with a library employee –16 per cent spent some of their time without using any of the library’s services –13 per cent borrowed material –10 per cent read newspapers or magazines –4 per cent studied or worked

Of those who came to read newspapers and magazines… 10 per cent read newspapers or magazines they spent on average 42 minutes in the library Their activities: –69 per cent browsed the shelves –22 per cent borrowed material –13 per cent used computers, 12 per cent used Internet –18 per cent were together with others –6 per cent spent some of their time without using any of the library’s services –3 per cent studied or worked

Of those who used the library as a social meeting place… 25 per cent were together with others they spent on average 40 minutes in the library Their activities: –48 per cent browsed the shelves –38 per cent borrowed material –27 per cent made contact with a library employee –24 per cent used computers, 14 per cent used Internet –17 per cent spent some of their time without using any of the library’s services –5 per cent used the library only as a social meeting place –11 per cent studied or worked –7 per cent read newspapers or magazines

Patron profiles

Gender Women borrow materials, are at the library together with others, and study or work to a greater extent than do men Menn use computers – especially to go online – and read newspapers and magazines to a greater extent than do women

Age 0 – 14 years - most often together with others (77 %) - the group that spends the most time in the library without using any library services (25 %) years - the group with the fewest who borrow material (40 %) - often together with others (43 %) - Use computers to a great extent, especially to go online (18 %) - 15 % study or work years - the group that most often studies or works (19 %) - 42 % borrow material - 28 % are together with others - 16 % use Internet years - 48 % borrow material - 12 % use Internet, 8 % read newspapers and magazines - 1 of 5 in this group is together with another person years - the group with the most who borrow material (54 %) Per centage of those who read newspapers or magazines increases with age Per centage of those who are together with others decreases with age Per centage of those who use computers on offer to go online, decreases with age

Language Patrons whose mother tongue was Norwegian borrowed more than others Patrons whose mother tongue was something other than Norwegian used computers - especially to go online - more than others There were only small differences between language groups in regard to studying/working and reading newspapers/magazines Patrons from non-Western countries were those who were most often together with others, as well as being those who tended to use the library without using any of the services on offer Slightly fewer than 3 per cent of those who had a mother tongue other than Norwegian and who were between the ages of 0-18 met someone they knew at the library, and they were much more likely to do so than were native Norwegian-speakers

To sum up: Borrowing material is the main activity at these libraries The library as an arena for learning: –11 per cent use the library as a place in which to work –youth and young adults –these patrons spend a relatively long amount of time at the library The library as an informal meeting place: –most use the library on their own, but 25 per cent are together with others –young people use the library as a social arena to a greater extent than older patrons do –the social dimension seems to be most important to those who come from countries other than Norway

Thank you for your attention! Hege Govasmark English translation: Ann Kunish