1. Young Americans, Reading, and Libraries
Lee Rainie
Director – Pew Internet Project
December 5, 2013
Connecticut Library Association
@lrainie | @pewinternet | @pewresearch

2. “Tell the truth, and trust the people”
-- Joseph N. Pew, Jr.
pewinternet.org
libraries.pewinternet.org

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.

5. About our libraries research
Three phases:
State of reading
Library services
Typology
Three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to study the changing role of public libraries in the digital age

6. Internet use over time 85%(2013) 14% (1995)
% of adults ages 18+ who go online, 1995-present
85%(2013)
In June 1995, 14% of American adults used the internet.
By the year 2000, just five years later, half of adults were online.
Now, eight in ten adults use the internet, including half of seniors 65 and older.
14% (1995)
2013
November 14, 2018

7. Adults’ gadget ownership (18+)
91% of adults have a cell phone
61% have a laptop computer
58% have a desktop computer
55% have a smartphone
34% have a tablet computer
24% have an e-reader
At the time of this survey, comparable to adults
November 14, 2018

8. “Does anyone still read books?”

9. Book reading by age group
Among readers, the % in each age group who read a book in print or an e-book in the past year (2012)
The proportion of younger readers who read a print book in the past year has remained relatively steady, while e-reading rose among all ages of readers—particularly those in their thirties and forties.
Source: Pew Internet November 2012 survey.

10. Tablets & e-readers by age group
44% of year-olds say they have a tablet (same rate as 30-49)
Source: Pew Internet September 2013 survey.

11. E-reading is on the rise - 1
As of late 2012…
23% of those 18+ read an e-book, up from 16% in 2011
5% of those 16+ have borrowed an e-book from the library in past year
Readers in their 30s and 40s = most likely to read e-books
75% of Americans read at least one book in the past year
Average = 15 books
(Median = 6 books)
E-book reading is growing; borrowing is just getting started

12. E-reading is on the rise – 2
% of all 16+ who read a book in each format in the past year
75% of Americans read at least one book in the past year
Average = 15 books
(Median = 6 books)
Older adults read on e-reading devices; younger read on computers, cell phones
E-book reading is growing; borrowing is just getting started
Source: Pew Internet December 2011 / November 2012 surveys.

13. Book reading by age group
Among readers, the % in each age group who read a book in print or an e-book in the past year (2012)
The proportion of younger readers who read a print book in the past year has remained relatively steady, while e-reading rose among all ages of readers—particularly those in their thirties and forties.
Source: Pew Internet November 2012 survey.

14. Why Americans read
% in each age group who read any type of material (including books, magazines, journals, newspapers, & online content) for the following reasons:
Source: Pew Internet December 2011 survey. libraries.pewinternet.org

15. E-books beyond e-readers
Among people who read e-books, the % in each age group who read their e-books on the following devices (2011)
E-books don’t seem to supplant print books so much as supplement them in readers’ habits.
Source: Pew Internet December 2011 survey. libraries.pewinternet.org

16. Which is better for these purposes, a printed book or an e-book?
Among those 16+ who read both a print book & an e-book in the past year (2011)
E-books don’t seem to supplant print books so much as supplement them in readers’ habits.
Source: Pew Internet December 2011 survey. libraries.pewinternet.org

17. The changing story at libraries

18. Libraries are deeply 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

19. If your local public library CLOSED, would that have a MAJOR impact, MINOR impact or NO IMPACT on …

20. Agree / disagree questions

21. 96%
96%
93%
81%

23. Many of their patrons and biggest fans can’t answer the Marvin Gaye question … What’s going on? 23% say that they know all or most of the services their libraries offer 47% say they know some of what their libraries offer 30% said they know not much or nothing at all of what their libraries offer

24. ? ?
62% of Americans say they do not know if their library lends out e-books.
This includes 58% of library card holders.
Just 31% of Americans say their library does offer e-books.
Source: Pew Internet November 2012 survey.

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

26. 18-29 yr olds, smartphone owners, know less about libraries, whites
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
Internet users, more active / knowledgeable patrons, whites, those over 50, higher income HH, full time workers, parents of tweens, computer owners, heavier book readers (including e-book readers)
Less active library users, men, Af-Amer, Latinos, teens, less education, lower income HH, no computer
18-29 yr olds, smartphone owners, know less about libraries, whites

27. Imagining the “librarian of the future”
Aggregator/
Synthesizer
Organizer
Network node
Facilitator

28. What do Americans want?
More activities, more separate spaces …and print books, quiet Convenience (apps, e- books, kiosks) … and closer relationships with librarians Embedded info experts … and disembodied, too

29. the new library value proposition?

30. People

31. Place

32. Platform

33. Examples of market and cultural shortcomings librarians are (and could) address
Technology non-users - skills training in new literacies
Pre-school programs
After school activities
English as a Second Language courses
Lifelong learning opportunities / credentialing competency
Fill gaps in local media ecosystem – community and civic information/curation
Help for small business / entrepreneurs / non-profits
Serendipity agents of discovery

34. Be not afraid