73% of Americans are 'likely' to ask an on-line librarian for research help.
Tuesday, 02 April 2013
That's a lot of people who want to use our libraries.
Gather your data while ye may!
In a new survey of Americans’ attitudes and expectations for public libraries, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project finds that many library patrons are eager to see libraries’ digital services expand, yet also feel that print books remain important in the digital age.
The availability of free computers and internet access now rivals book lending and reference expertise as a vital service of libraries. In a national survey of Americans ages 16 and older:
80% of Americans say borrowing books is a “very important” service libraries provide.
80% say reference librarians are a “very important” service of libraries.
77% say free access to computers and the internet is a “very important” service of libraries.
Moreover, a notable share of Americans say they would embrace even wider uses of technology at libraries
Read the entire report here.
Here's the summary graph. It is interesting to read in the report about how the answers are split among different demographics.