People Like the Net and Libraries

A new study shows that 75 percent use both

Staff -- School Library Journal, 12/1/2000

Seventy-five percent of adults use both the public library and the Internet to get information and reading material, a new survey for the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) has found. Survey respondents rated the public library higher than the Net for ease of use, low cost, helpfulness of the librarians, and protection of user privacy. On the other hand, the Internet was rated superior to the library for hours of availability, up-to-date information, range of resources, and enjoyability of browsing. The survey, done for ULC by researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Information Studies, found no evidence that frequent Internet use led to a decline in library use.

"The most important finding of this survey is that 75 percent of Net users also use the library," says Joey Rodger, CEO of ULC. "But the shadow side of that statistic is that younger users 18 to 25 don't use the library much," and instead use the Web for most information. Since this group is one whose lives have been profoundly affected by the Internet, Rodger hopes to redo the survey every two years to see whether the pattern of Net use vs. library use continues as this age group matures.

Asked about findings of interest to librarians working with those under 18, Rodger points out that with this group, a library's staff can be its greatest strength--or weakness. Survey respondents pointed to the helpfulness of library staff as a plus, but other ULC surveys have shown that many children and teenagers "don't find libraries welcoming places" because of staff who lack skills in communicating with young people. "Libraries need more staff development that will help staff members feel successful communicating with youth," Rodger says.

She believes also that librarians need to be thinking about new ways to work with young people. These new ways will rely on the skills of library staff, as well as learning stations, new kinds of book discussion groups, and cooperative projects with other community agencies. "We need to listen to kids and work with them, providing opportunities for them to learn and interact in ways that are important to them," she says. The survey results are available for download in PDF format at www.urbanlibraries.org.--W. M.