1. Lifelong Learning, Libraries, and Digital Skills
John B. Horrigan, PhD
July 2018
Presentation to the:
GALILEO Annual Conference

2. Lifelong Learning: Context
73% of all Americans consider themselves lifelong learners
76% say their local public libraries do a good job serving the learning needs of their community (for all ages).
37% say they do this “very well”
39% “pretty well”
71% say local public libraries do a good job meeting the learning needs of them & their family
35% say they do this “very well”
36% say they do this “pretty well”

3. 74% of adults have done a learning activity for self-improvement or personal interest in past year
58% read “how to” magazines
35% attend a meeting such as a book club, sports club, or arts club
30% attended a convention or conference to learn something new
25% took a course related to a personal interest
16% took an online course

4. 63% of employed adults have engaged in some kind of learning or training in the past year
55% did so to improve or maintain job skills
36% for a license or certification for a job
24% to help get a raise or promotion at work
13% to get a job with a different employer
7% because they were worried about possible downsizing

5. The internet plays a role in learning, but place matters
Personal learners
81% of personal learners pursue learning at places such as libraries, community center, or places of worship
23% do this at a library
52% pursue personal learning on the internet
31% say most or all of their learning takes place online.
16% have taken an online course

6. Two drivers of demand for digital skills
Data-driven apps  and security risks
Explosion of data – global traffic expected to grow by 3X from
64% of Americans have experienced major data breach
Changing nature of work
High-end jobs have tech-driven skills bias
Majority of middle-skill jobs require digital skills

7. Demand for digital skills
60% of adults interested in training on how to find trustworthy information online
54% of adults interested in digital literacy training
Overall  69% of Americans interested in at least one of these types of training

8. Libraries assets in cultivating digital skills & lifelong learning
The three T’s
Touch
Trust
Tools

9. Touch: Library Use 80% of Americans have visited a public library, with about half doing so in a given 12 month period

10. Trust: Library as a trusted institution

11. Trust in news and info sources
A lot
Somewhat
NET trust
Information you can get from the local public library or librarians
40%
38%
78%
Information from health care providers 39 44 83
Information you get from family and friends 24 58 82
Information from local news organizations 18 54 72
Information from government sources 43 61
Information from national news organizations 17 48 65
Information from financial institutions 14 68
Information you see on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (among internet users) 3 31 34

12. Tools: What the public expects: What libraries should definitely do (2016)
Provide free early literacy programs
85%
Coordinate more closely with schools 85
Offer digital skills programs 80
Offer programs on online privacy/security 76
Create services/programs for immigrants or second generation Americans 59
Create services/programs for businesses or entrepreneurs 52
Buy 3-D printers, i.e., develop maker spaces 50
Help people decide what information to trust 37

13. Implications Libraries bring critical assets to lifelong learning
Must deepen role as part of civic infrastructure
A “go to” anchor institution for building workforce skills
Collaborate with community workforce development programs