So I suppose all those predictions about libraries being felled by the Internet were a little premature. In fact it looks like all the cool kids are doing the library thing.
According to the newest study from the Pew Internet and American Life Center – the youngest, most affluent and most internet-connected adults in the US are also the most likely to visit a physical library. It wasn’t that way just 10 years ago. How many other legacy industries can you think of today that can say their strongest growth is among young, affluent, power-internet users? Something is going very right in library land.
For once I am one of the cool kids.
Tags: library, Pew Internet and American Life Center, society
January 2, 2008 at 11:29 am
I hope kids are visiting the library for books and not MORE access to technology and its expensive gadgets. What are the raw numbers in terms of borrowing figures? Are kids taking out books…or DVD’s and CD’s? Are they coming to the library for information or because the free internet computer is usually open right after school? Etc….
January 2, 2008 at 11:48 am
Very good questions. The study says that they ” … use libraries for problem-solving information and in general patronage for any purpose.”
Whatever that means.
January 3, 2008 at 11:41 am
Here’s another interesting take on that same study. I wonder how many people go to the library to use their computers as opposed to check out books?