I knew I was in the right generation
Yesterday a study was released which indicates that the largest group of public library users are aged 18-30.
Who even knew?
This is interesting news for libraries and librarians because it means that the very users everyone dismisses as the "Google" generation who get all their information on their home computer are actually using the library as well. I personally can use this as justification for directing more budget money and programming to that age group.
According to the survey, lots of young adults go to libraries to use the computers, read newspapers & magazines, check out books, and to get information about jobs, government benefits, educational opportunities & requirements, and health questions.
I'm so proud of everyone.
If you are hardcore like me and think the funnest thing on earth would be to read the full 42-page report, you can find it here. I'll probably have a cold shower running just in case I get too excited.
If you'd rather read the short AP article about the findings, you can do that too.
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
9 comments:
Just today, when Murray and I bought an antique camera, I thought, "Isn't it wonderful that we can just find out how to use it on the internet instead of making a trip to the library and trying to find some book that might possibly tell us how to use it?"
But I must confess that I have had an aversion to libraries since the third grade.
Still, that's good news that you've shared... I guess the world isn't going to pot after all.
The thing that I found most interesting was the comparison to an earlier study done ten years ago. That one found that young people (at the time) were avoiding the library, so librarians were all doom and gloom about it. Well, now the library avoiders have just gotten older and are still avoiding, but the younger people now go. It wasn't an age issue, it was something about that particular group dynamic. Ha.
I read a similar study about how the number of drug overdoses, suicides, and accidental deaths has moved up to the 40-60 category rather than staying with the 18-30. What is up with our parents? :)
Well I think it's great no matter the motivation. I smile whenever I hear someone say that they'd just finished reading a great book, and want to talk about it.
I think a big problem with internet research is that there is just way too much garbage out there to filter through now when you search Google. As much as I love my fellow Bloggers, I don't necessarily want to get my medical research from one of them. Google doesn't filter by quality of information...the Library does!
Good news to read about Nem. :)
Cicada, I do know what you mean. It's quite touching to have people come in and ask for books about the most obscure subjects under the sun--which is when I have to introduce them to The Interweb.
Foxyj, I know, isn't that interesting! It's like the first group is still off in their own world, but their younger brothers and sisters are on top of things.
Jimmy, you're right about the Google thing. A lot of kids who come in to work on reports are being told by their teachers that they can only use a few websites as sources. So I really like being able to show kids & parents that the library has paid for them to have online access to all kinds of great sources (like magazine and journal articles, encyclopedia entries, etc.) They're always so stunned, because they had no idea that was available. They're even more excited when I tell them they can use it as a regular source rather than having to quote it as a website. :-)
Personally, I think I'd go crazy without my local library.
I think I'll go for the "short summary of the report on Voice of Reason" version. And that's done!
Happy New Year! Your's is still one of my top three favourite blogs to read and I look forward to more of the same in 2008.
My library supports my reading addiction. It helps that it's part of the LA County Library system, so I can go online and request any book and it will be delivered to my local library for me to pick up.
I don't go to my local library that much I'm afriad.
Mainly as I work for a publishing company and I get the books I would book out of the library for free anyway.
Slashdot also ran the Generation Y at the library story, but pointed out that it's primarily for technological resources. Speaks well of libraries' keeping with the times.
Your blog is beautifully clean-looking, by the way.
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