The Pew Internet Project provides information on issues and trends that impact on children, families, communities, and schools. This latest report revealed unexpected findings: more younger adult Americans used public libraries last year than any other age group. 62% of Gen Y (18-30) and 59% of Gen X (31-42) while 42% of Matures (62-71) and 32% of After Work (72+) visited libraries.
The biggest surprise is that internet users (61%) are more likely to be library patrons than non-internet users (28%). Broadband users (62%) use libraries more than dial-up users (38%).
There is no significant differences by race or ethnicity. 53% of Whites, Blacks, and English-speaking Hispanics visited libraries in the past year, but households with higher income (61%) and college graduates (68%) were more likely to be public library patrons.
Most popular problem-solving searches at libraries:
- Decisions about schooling or training,
- Jobs
- Serious illness
- Taxes
- Medicare/Medicaid/food stamps
Library patrons like what they find at the Library and want more of the same, especially personalized services provided by library staff members they trust. People are overloaded with information and they come to libraries for help in dealing with the volume and speed of information.
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