On April 7, 2016, the Pew Research Center released a new study on Libraries & Learning.
Most Americans believe libraries do a decent job of serving the education and learning needs of their communities and their own families. A new survey by Pew Research Center shows that 76% of adults say libraries serve the learning and educational needs of their communities either “very well” (37%) or “pretty well” (39%). Further, 71% say libraries serve their own personal needs and the needs of their families “very well” or “pretty well.”
Overall, in the past 12 months, 50% of adults interacted with a library through its facility, website or app.
The most affirming aspect of the study is that library users are major technology adopters.
Library users are more likely to be digital technology users. The survey found that people who used a library or bookmobile in the past year are more likely than non-library users or less-recent users to be technology users.
- Internet – 93% of those who used a library or bookmobile in the past 12 months are internet users.
- Smartphones – 76% of those who used a library or bookmobile in the past 12 months are smartphone users.
- Home broadband – 74% of those who used a library or bookmobile in the past 12 months are home broadband users.
- Social media – 74% of those who used a library or bookmobile in the past 12 months are social media users.
This counters the argument that the internet and technology are replacing the need for the library in people’s lives. In fact, it proves the opposite. The library and technology can co-exist and complement each other nicely.