Web generation heaviest users of public libraries

Some people question the value and usage of libraries by the youth of today’s society; this article from CNN shows that, despite their web addiction, teenagers utilize libraries more often than the adult population. This proves that libraries are not a lost cause, but rather a fundamental and educational foothold for America’s youth.

Here are a few important excerpts:
“Young adults are the heaviest users of public libraries despite the ease with which they can access a wealth of information over the Internet from the comforts of their homes”

“The study found that library usage drops gradually as people age — to 62 percent among Americans generally aged 18-30 compared with 32 percent among those 72 and up, with a sharp decline just as Americans turn 50.”

“‘We know everyone has problems and needs for information, and libraries still need to reach out and make sure people know’ about the resources available, Roy said.”

“‘It was truly surprising in this survey to find the youngest adults are the heaviest library users,’ Rainie said. ‘The notion has taken hold in our culture that these wired-up, heavily gadgeted young folks are swimming in a sea of information and don’t need to go to places where information is.’”

” Leigh Estabrook, a retired professor of information science and sociology at the University of Illinois, said young adults used to finding information online are likely to crave even more and realize they need to turn to libraries to get it.
Rainie added that young adults are the ones likely to have visited libraries as teens and seen their transformation into information hubs, with computers and databases alongside stacks of printed books.”