From the Pew Research Center
A new Pew Research Center study, “Libraries at the Crossroads,” shows that the public is interested in new services and thinks libraries are important to communities.
American libraries are buffeted by cross currents. Citizens believe that libraries are important community institutions and profess interest in libraries offering a range of new program possibilities. Yet there are signs that the share of Americans visiting libraries has edged downward over the past three years.
Many Americans say they want public libraries to:
- support local education;
- serve special constituents such as veterans, active-duty military personnel and immigrants;
- help local businesses, job seekers and those upgrading their work skills;
- embrace new technologies such as 3-D printers and provide services to help patrons learn about high-tech gadgetry.
Learn more at www.pewinternet.org/2015/09/15/libraries-at-the-crossroads.