Consumers Cool to Blu-ray DVDs (So Far)

Blu-ray DVDs have arrived at the Half Hollow Hills Community Library (great website!), which serves the residents of Dix Hills and Melville, Long Island, New York.

Is this the right move for your library?

Link to August 1 ABI Research post, "Consumers Delaying Blu-ray Player Purchases".

Excerpt:
Blu-ray players are not flying off retailers’ shelves, at least not in the numbers the industry might hope for. A new consumer survey from ABI Research has revealed a widespread reluctance to commit to a Blu-ray player in the near future: over half of the 1000 respondents, citing “other priorities,” say they have no plans to purchase one; a further 23% are likely to buy, but not until sometime in 2009.

ABI Research principal analyst Steve Wilson says that much of the lukewarm response can be attributed to consumers’ perceptions about the value proposition that Blu-ray delivers. “Consumers were happy to embrace standard DVD when that format arrived because the improvement in quality over VHS videotapes was dramatic. Standard DVD didn’t require the purchase of a new TV either. In contrast, while half of the respondents to our survey rated Blu-ray’s quality as ‘much better’ than standard DVD, another 40% termed it only ‘somewhat better,’ and most are very satisfied with the performance of their current DVD players.”

I still live in a tube TV household, so don't ask me for any cutting-edge advice on this topic.

Congratulations to John Stoneberg

Link to August 6 Eau Claire Leader Telegram article, "New library director knows facility well".

Excerpt:

John Stoneberg joined the library staff when the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library building on Eau Claire Street was only one year old.

Now, about 30 years later, he's been named director of the institution and will oversee renovation of that building.

"Right now the renovation plans are front and center," Stoneberg,55, said Wednesday, his first official day in the director position. He had served as interim director for the past month and a half after Michael Golrick and the Library Board parted ways.

Aside from the $1.57 million renovation project planned for next year, Stoneberg said the library's other big challenge will be navigating through tight budgets the city faces now and in the future.

Link to WQOW news story.

Latest Pew Survey on Internet Activity

Link to Pew Internet & American Life Project survey summary.

Excerpt: Those who are using search engines on an average day are more likely to have higher education and incomes, be internet users with at least six years of online experience and to have their homes wired for fast internet connections. Younger internet users are more likely than older users to search on a typical day and men are more likely than women to do so.

Includes cross-tabulations by education, income, broadband use, age, and gender.