Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian

Computers in Libraries 2008 Keynote:

Libraries Solve Problems
Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project

From the conference program:
"Rainie discusses the findings of a major national survey that examined how Americans use the internet and libraries when they face significant issues or milestones in their lives.  The survey looks at the pathways people use to get to the information they want and the kinds of information they use when facing issues such as health problems, furthering their education, and exploring government benefits.  The Project's work pays particular attention to those who have limited access to the internet and the ways in which libraries might serve them."

Rainie warmed up the crowd by sharing the "Most Important Find of the Project":  Librarians Rock!

Crowd warmup now complete, the speaker moved on to a few illuminating statistics gathered by the Pew Internet & American Life Project:
In 2000:

In 2000, internet use was slow and stationary.

In 2008:

In 2008, internet use is fast and mobile.

Pew has found that early adapters of cellphone internet use are different from the early PC internet users.  Those using the internet via a cellphone are not as wealthy or well educated as the first PC internet users of the 1990s.  More cellphone users are minorities.  Despite predictions of it's imminent death, email finding new life on cellphones.  Editorial comment:  I'd like to see some stats on this.  Everything I've heard is that SMS is leapfrogging over email and IM both as the tool of choice for cellphones.

Pew recently released a new study on how people are using the internet to solve problems.  There were some surprising findings with interesting implications for libraries.

PATRONAGE
The study participants to identify which of 10 common problems they had dealt with in the past year.  Examples from the list included:

Of the participants, 79.5% had had at least one problem from the list.  Applied to the general population, this would equal about 169 million people.

Of the study participants, 53% of adults had been to the library in the last year.  Of that percentage, 62% were in the 18-30 age range.  Think about that.  A majority of those who had used a library recently were in the much-coveted 18-30 age range.  This contradicts the popular notion that internet users are deserting libraries.

The study revealed some other interesting statitics.  60% of surveyed teens who use the internet do so at libraries, up from 36% found in a similar study in 2000. 

Those who identified themselves as library patrons were more likely to:

These statistics showed no sig differences when broken down by race and ethnicity.

On to the problem solving.  When asked what resources they used to address their problem(s), participants reported that:

13% used a library.  Ouch. 

What were the most common problems solved at libraries?

Of those who reported going to the library:

Clearly the choice between budgeting for computers and hiring staff is no choice at all.  You need both.

Why did young adults show this affinity for the library?  The study has no answer to this question, but Rainie made a hypothisis.  He believes that young adults have had the most recent experience with libraries (because of school and other youth activities) and thus have a better understanding of how libraries have embraced the internet and had good experiences.

Rainie left us with a few takeaways: