Library Use Way Up For Things Libraries Weren't Built For

Yesterday I had the pleasure of sitting in on a Book Club discussion with author James Gavin and Kirkland librarian Elsa Steele (as part of my work with Kirkland Performance Center). One interesting point of conversation, extant to our project here, was library usage.

As our information diet is consumed via devices of increasing technological sophistication, what's up with that old jalopy The Book, and its antique storehouse, The Library?

Well, the American Library Association (which, it should be noted, is obviously interested in building a positive image of the library's vitality) published a report in April, the State of America's Libraries Report 2010 that seeks to answer this very question. Apparently usage is way up and public opinion of libraries is way up, too.

This is pretty intuitive given the state of the economy. Who else is handing out free books and movies? It's also not surprising that Academic Libraries are adding more and more electronic resources, which I imagine are far more affordable and convenient than giant bound reference collections. There's also a pretty funny section on how badly libraries suck at using Facebook and Flickr (editorial note: who the hell cares if libraries use Facebook?).

A chief driver of library use was job-hunting. With its free internet and cheap printing the library is clearly ideal for this in-demand activity. What's really shocking is how much public assistance library staff are offering.

Two-thirds of public libraries help patrons complete online job applications; provide access to job databases and other online resources (88 percent) and civil service exam materials (75 percent); and offer software or other resources (69 percent) to help patrons create resumes and other employment materials. Forty-two percent of urban libraries report offering classes related to job-seeking, and about 27 percent collaborate with outside agencies or individuals to help patrons complete online job applications. (page i)

....

“Public libraries often are the only organizations within a community that can help individuals interact with government agencies and access e-government services,” ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels said in an ALA press release in June 2009. “As more and more government information and services are becoming only available on line, there is an urgent need for governments to collaborate with public libraries to provide e-government services that best meet community needs.” (page 21)

Apparently librarians are social workers, too. Personally I think this is pretty embarrassing for the state of our social fabric.

These new trends must really be overwhelming the attention of our libraries because this report had virtually nothing in it about books! So if anyone has any info about that, let me know. Is this depressing?