Public libraries essential to 21st century communities

Americans prize public library service in the Internet Age, and see libraries as well equipped to meet twenty-first century challenges in their communities, according to a recent public opinion survey. The study was sponsored by the Americans for Libraries Council (ALC), with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"With a growing number of critics questioning the relevance of the library in the Internet Age, we thought the time was right to explore just how pervasive this perception is," ALC President Diantha Dow Schull said. "What the study found is encouraging and enlightening. Most Americans believe that libraries are not only relevant to the times, but essential to their communities."

According to the study, Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public and Leadership Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century, more than 78 percent of Americans say that if their library was shut down because of a lack of funding, they would feel that something essential that affects the whole community had been lost.

The public sees libraries as particularly well-suited to addressing four pressing problems:

• Supplying more engaging services for teens
• Fighting illiteracy and improving reading skills among adults
• Providing free and ready access to information about government services, including making public documents and forms readily available; and
• Providing greater access to computers for all.

At the same time, the multi-level public opinion study identifies a troubling issue for library advocates. While 45 percent of Americans give their public libraries an "A," more than any other community service asked about, and 71 percent say their local library uses public money well, few Americans are aware of the serious financial issues faced by many libraries.

"This study provides us with a compelling case to policymakers, about what an invaluable asset libraries are and what a great investment in future they can be," Schull said.

The full study and a two-page summary of the study are available at http://www.publicagenda.org/research/research_reports_details.cfm?list=99. Also available is a fact sheet called Five Things Community Leaders Should Know About Libraries and the Public, at http://www.publicagenda.org/research/pdfs/long_overdue_five_things.pdf

Last updated on 6/26/2006