Pew Internet & American Life Project: Library Services in the Digital Age

What I spent my time digesting the past hour.  (The entire report is a feast, too much to take in at one sitting.)

The 3 general  library activities a Pew Research report (published January 22, 2013) found to be most frequently designated as "very important", in a national survey of American 16 years of age and older.

• 80%.  Borrowing books
• 80%.  Reference librarians
• 77%.  Free access to computers and the Internet

Wider uses of technology  (% very likely to use)

• 37%.  Online research services allowing patrons to pose questions and get answers from librarians

• 35%.  Apps based access to library services and programs

• 35%.   Access to technology “petting zoos” to try out new devices.

• 34%.  GPS-navigation apps to help patrons locate material inside library buildings
• 33%.  “Redbox”-style lending machines or kiosks located throughout the community where people can check out books, movies or music without having to go to the library itself:.  (A contrarian view)
• 29%.  “Amazon”-style customized book/audio/video recommendation schemes that are based on patrons’ prior library behavior\.

Fayetteville.  Sound familiar?

Lots more to look at in this report, particularly Part 4, What People Want From Their Libraries.

Another opportunity to share a favorite quote.

In the same way that libraries have continued, and will continue, to evolve.