Your Library Connection
National Study finds Americans Value, see Future Need for Public Libraries
A frequent visitor to the public library had a short conversation with a new
library employee:
8-Year Old: Are you new to the library?
New Employee: Yes, I am.
8-Year Old: Well, I guess I’ll get used to you.
The random-sample telephone survey conducted by KRC Research and Consulting provides an American view of public libraries. The study results illustrate how important libraries are to our people and our nation. This corresponds with the eight-year old above who is obviously a frequent user and feels a sense of ownership in the public library.
A new national study from the American Library
Association (ALA) finds that Americans overwhelmingly are very satisfied with
their public libraries, agree more public library funding is needed and believe
public libraries will be needed in the future. Two-thirds of adult Americans
(roughly 135 million people) visited their public libraries last year.
”In Electronic Age, Americans’ Use of Library Services Grows.” American Library
Association. 28 Feb. 2006 http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=117217
Following is a sampling from the survey questions and answers. For the following statements, the person surveyed could answer Strongly Agree, Somewhat agree, Somewhat disagree, Strongly disagree, or Don’t know.
The public library is important to my family’s education.
90 % agreed (strongly agreed 62%, somewhat agreed 28%).
7% disagreed (somewhat disagreed 5%, and strongly disagreed 2%.
3% didn’t know or refused to answer.
The library improves the quality of life in our community.
93% agreed (strongly agreed 68%, somewhat agreed 26%).
5% disagreed (somewhat disagreed 3%, and strongly disagreed 2%).
2% didn’t know or refused to answer.
My public library deserves more funding.
85% agreed (strongly agreed 58%, somewhat agreed 27%).
9% disagreed (somewhat disagreed 6%, and strongly disagreed 3%).
6% didn’t know or refused to answer.
The public library plays an important role in giving everyone a chance to
succeed.
96% agreed (strongly agreed 75%, somewhat agreed 21%).
9% disagreed (somewhat disagreed 1%, and strongly disagreed 1%).
2% didn’t know or refused to answer.
The library is critical to our democracy.
85% agreed (strongly agreed 52%, somewhat agreed 33%).
12% disagreed (somewhat disagreed 8%, and strongly disagreed 4%).
4% didn’t know or refused to answer.
If you would like to read the entire article about this study, or link to the
questions and responses, it is available by going to the Independence Public
Library Website,
www.indylibrary.org, and clicking on National Library Study found under
New. There are also printed copies of the article available at the library.
Library Tidbits:
Visit the library website www.indylibrary.org or call us at 334-2470 if you are interested in signing up for free March computer classes…Internet Basics, Email Basics, File Management Basics, and Online Reference Tools. This month’s classes are sponsored by the Friends of the Independence Public Library.
Vote for your choice of Riverside Cinema Summer ’06 Movies on the library website www.indylibrary.org or by paper ballot at the library. There will be five movies shown at the River Walk Parks Band Pavilion this summer, one each in May, June, July, August, and September!
Story times are Wednesday mornings at 9:30. Vonnie, the Story Lady, reads books and does activities and crafts with the little ones. Please join us! Themes are available at the library or on our website www.indylibrary.org (scroll to the bottom and click on Calendar of Events).
A beautiful quilt made by Kelly Kane, member of the Calico Cut-ups Quilt Guild, is on display at the library. Make sure to stop in and see it during the month of March.
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