Library Patrons Want More E-books, But They Want to Keep Print ...

While residents of Bexar County, Texas, may be embracing a proposal for the nation's first local library free of printed books, not all Americans are crazy about the notion, a survey released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center indicates.

The survey reveals just how important libraries are to their communities, and ranks the popularity of the services they offer. According to Pew, six in 10 Americans above the age of 15 either visited a library or bookmobile, or accessed a library website, in the past year. Uses varied: Most (around 73%) visited a library to borrow print books, and nearly as many (66%) used the Internet. More than half stopped by to do research or solicit the help of a reference librarian. Others simply passed the time reading and or studying (49%), checked out DVDs (40%) or CDs (16%), or met with a group (23%).

Although more e-books are now sold each year than hardcover books, e-books are not yet very popular at libraries. As mentioned previously, nearly three-fourths of library visitors go to check out print books. Far fewer turn to their libraries for e-books: Of the 25% of survey participants who visited a library website in the past year, only 22% said they borrowed or downloaded an e-book. That may be partly because many libraries don't yet offer e-books for checkout. In a focus group conducted by few, several said e-book borrowing would "rekindle their interest in the library."

"While many patrons appreciate bring able to access new digital resources at libraries, they also say they value having print books and other traditional resources at libraries and still want a personal connection with library staff," Kathryn Zickuhr, research analyst at Pew, observed in a press statement. "Many libraries are torn between expanding their digital offerings on the latest platforms and still providing quality resources for patrons who may lack experience with technology or the means to own the latest devices."

In addition to use habits, Pew compiled a laundry list of items patrons want from their libraries:

• The ability to borrow books (80%).

• More e-books (83%).

• IPS navigation for locating books (62%).

• Access to reference librarians (80%).

• Redbox-style kiosks for renting books in public spaces outside the library (63%).

• Free access to Internet-connected computers (77%).

• An online "ask a librarian" service (73%).

• Access to library materials via apps (63%).

• An area to try out new devices (69%).

• Amazon-style recommendation engines based on past checkout history (64%).

• Free literacy programs for young children (82%).

Yet when asked whether they would be willing to give up existing resources to make room for these things ? to move some books to off-site storage centers to make sense for a device-testing center, for instance ? only 20% of survey participants said they were in favor. Thirty-six percent said libraries should "definitely" not move books off-site.

Which sums up the whole problem, really.

Image courtesy of Flickr, AZ Adam

Source: http://mashable.com/2013/01/22/library-use-study-pew/

Jerry Lawler godaddy andy murray Samsung Galaxy S3 usps bachelor pad bachelor pad