{"id":94622,"date":"2013-06-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-06-25T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2013\/06\/25\/younger-americans-library-habits-and-expectations\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T04:13:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T09:13:06","slug":"younger-americans-library-habits-and-expectations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2013\/06\/25\/younger-americans-library-habits-and-expectations\/","title":{"rendered":"Younger Americans\u2019 Library Habits and Expectations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <span>\u2018Digital natives\u2019 are still bound to printed media<\/span> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <i>Americans ages 16-29 are heavy technology users, including using computers and internet at libraries. At the same time, the most still read and borrow printed books, and value a mix of traditional and technological library services.<\/i> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON (June 25, 2013)\u00a0\u2014 Belying the stereotype that younger Americans completely eschew print for digital, those ages 16-29 have wide-ranging media and technology behaviors that straddle the traditional paper-based world of books and digital access to information.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One major surprise in a new report from the Pew Research Center is that even in an age of increasing digital resources, those in this under-30 cohort are more likely than older Americans to use and appreciate libraries as physical spaces \u2013 places to study for class, go online, or just hang out. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report paints a textured portrait of younger Americans\u2019\u00a0sometimes surprising relationships with libraries\u2019 physical and digital resources: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> <b>Online: <\/b>Almost all those in the 16-29 age group are online, and they are <a name=\"_GoBack\"><\/a>more likely than older patrons to use libraries\u2019 computer and internet connections, access library websites, and use a library\u2019s research databases. <\/li>\n<li> <b>On paper: <\/b>However, younger Americans are also more likely than older adults to have read a printed book in the past year: 75% of younger Americans have done so, compared with 64% of older adults. <\/li>\n<li> <b>On-site: <\/b>Younger adults are also more likely than their elders to use libraries as quiet study spaces. Moreover, they are just as likely as older adults to have visited libraries, borrowed printed books, and browsed the stacks of books.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This mix of interests is further reflected in younger users\u2019 desires for new library services. Americans ages 16-29 are particularly interested in adding technology-driven features such as apps for accessing library materials and for navigating library spaces, and \u201cRedbox\u201d-style kiosks around town for convenient access to library materials around town. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, Americans under age 30 are strong supporters of traditional library services. Large majorities of them say it is \u201cvery important\u201d for libraries to have librarians and books for borrowing, and relatively few think that libraries should automate most library services or move most services online. And younger Americans, like older adults, think that print books should have a central place at libraries; only 23% strongly support moving some stacks of books out of public areas to create room for things such as technology centers, meeting rooms, and cultural events. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYounger Americans\u2019 reading habits and library use are still anchored by the printed page,\u201d said Kathryn Zickuhr, research analyst at the Pew Research Center\u2019s Internet &amp; American Life Project and a co-author of the new report about younger Americans\u2019 relationships with libraries. \u201cSome of this stems from the demands of school or work, yet some likely lies in their current personal preferences. And this group\u2019s priorities and expectations for libraries likewise reflect a mix of traditional and technological services.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These insights emerge in a new analysis of a survey of Americans ages 16 and older when they are asked about their library use and their hopes for the library of the future, which includes a new analysis of three specific age groups: 16-17 year-olds, 18-24 year-olds, and 25-29 year-olds. The findings are based on a survey of 2,252 Americans ages 16 and above between October 15 and November 10, 2012 by the Pew Research Center\u2019s Internet &amp; American Life Project. The surveys were administered on half on landline phones and half on cell phones and were conducted in English and Spanish. The margin of error for the full survey is plus or minus 2.3 percentage points. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <span>A snapshot of younger Americans\u2019 library habits and expectations<\/span> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other major findings from the report include:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> <b>85% of 16-17 year-olds read at least one print book in the past year<\/b>, making them significantly more likely to have read a book in this format than any other age group.<\/li>\n<li> <b>Younger patrons are significantly more likely than their elders to use libraries as places <\/b> <b>to sit and read, study, or watch or listen to media<\/b>; 60% of younger patrons say they go to the library do this, compared with 45% of library visitors ages 30 and older.<\/li>\n<li> <b>67% of younger Americans ages 16-29 say they would be interested in a digital media lab<\/b> where patrons could create and upload new digital content; some 27% say they would be \u201cvery likely\u201d to use such a resource.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a><\/li>\n<li> <b>44% of library visitors under age 30 have used a library\u2019s computers, internet, or a public WI-FI network<\/b>, compared with just 27% of those ages 30 and older.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Younger Americans\u2019 priorities for libraries reflect this mix of habits, including various types of brick-and-mortar services as well as digital technologies. Asked about what it is \u201cvery important\u201d libraries should offer, for instance, librarians were at the top of the list: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>80% of Americans under age 30 say it is \u201cvery important\u201d for libraries to have <b>librarians to help people find information they need<\/b><\/li>\n<li>76% say it is \u201cvery important\u201d for libraries to offer<b> research resources such as free databases<\/b><\/li>\n<li>75% say <b>free access to computers and the internet <\/b>is \u201cvery important\u201d for libraries to have<b> <\/b><\/li>\n<li>75% say it is \u201cvery important\u201d for libraries to offer<b> books for people to borrow<\/b><\/li>\n<li>72% say <b>quiet study spaces<\/b> are \u201cvery important\u201d<\/li>\n<li>72% say <b>programs and classes for children and teens<\/b> are \u201cvery important\u201d for libraries to have<\/li>\n<li>71% say it is \u201cvery important\u201d for libraries to offer<b> job or career resources<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <span>About this research<\/span> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This report is part of a broader effort by the Pew Internet Project to explore the role libraries play in people\u2019s lives and communities. The research is underwritten by the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Pew Research Center\u2019s Internet &amp; American Life Project is an initiative of the Pew Research Center, a non-profit \u201cfact tank\u201d that provides information on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping America and the world. The Pew Internet Project explores the impact of the internet on children, families, communities, the work place, schools, health care and civic\/political life. The Project is nonpartisan and takes no position on policy issues. Support for the Project is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts. More information is available at <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/\">pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<div><hr align=\"left\" size=\"1\" width=\"33%\">\n<div id=\"ftn1\">\n<p> <a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> One example of this type of space that has a particular focus on younger patrons is the YOUmedia teen learning spaces (youmedia.org), which are funded by the MacArthur Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Americans ages 16-29 are heavy technology users, including using computers and internet at libraries. At the same time, the most still read and borrow printed books, and value a mix of traditional and technological library services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":294,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_api_pending":"","apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_hidden":false,"relatedPosts":[],"reportMaterials":[],"multiSectionReport":[],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0},"categories":[],"tags":[],"bylines":[],"datasets":[],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[458],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[],"research-teams":[526],"workflow-status":[],"collection":[],"class_list":["post-94622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","formats-report","research-teams-internet"],"label":"Report","post_parent":0,"word_count":1049,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2013\/06\/25\/younger-americans-library-habits-and-expectations\/","art_direction":false,"_embeds":[],"prc_checklist":{"prc-image-alt-text":{"status":"complete","message":"No image blocks in content.","data":null},"prc-about-this-research":{"status":"incomplete","message":"Add an \"About this research\" details block.","data":null},"prc-paragraph-count":{"status":"complete","message":"Found 15 paragraphs.","data":{"count":15}},"prc-internal-link":{"status":"complete","message":"Found 1 internal link.","data":{"count":1}}},"watchChildPosts":false,"watchers":[],"table_of_contents":[],"report_materials":[],"report_pagination":{"current_post":null,"next_post":null,"previous_post":null,"pagination_items":[]},"parent_info":{"parent_title":"Younger Americans\u2019 Library Habits and Expectations","parent_id":94622},"materialsOrdered":[],"chaptersOrdered":[],"partsOrdered":[],"partsEnabled":false,"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"Younger Americans\u2019 Library Habits and Expectations","description":"Americans ages 16-29 are heavy technology users, including using computers and internet at libraries. 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