The 10 Most Important Insights from Pew Internet’s Library Research Lee Rainie Director Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Presented to: Computers and Libraries April 9, 2013

1) Libraries are beloved 91% say libraries are important to their communities 76% say libraries are important to them and their families Robert Dawson photography - Library Road Trip /

3 1a) Libraries stack up well vs. others How confident? How important?

2) 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

3) 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

4) 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% % of e-content readers say they are reading more now --- Late 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

Rise of e-reading devices

5) People are open to even more tech at libraries

6) African-Americans and Latinos are esp. enthusiastic

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

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

9) There is churn in library use Reasons library use INCREASED (26%) Enjoy taking their children, grandchildren26% Do research and use reference materials14% Borrow books more12% Student10% Use library computers and internet8% Have more time to read now, retired6% To save money6% Good selection and variety5% E-books, audio books, media are available5% Convenient5% Reading more now5% Library events and activities4% Good library and helpful staff3% Quiet, relaxing time, social locale2% Use for my job2% 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 time12% Can't get to library, moved, don't know where library is 9% Prefer e-books6% Prefer to buy books or get books from friends 5% Not interested4% Health issues3% Don't read much these days3% Don't like local library or staff3% Children are too young2%

10) 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

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Libraries.pewinternet.org Lee Rainie Kathryn Zickuhr Kristen Purcell