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Long Overdue Study Shows Libraries Highly Valued

“Who needs public libraries when everybody has the Internet at home?” – anonymous.  Roger Ebert would answer that question in this way, “Doing research on the Web is like using a library assembled piecemeal by pack rats and vandalized nightly.” 

Though Ebert’s thought may seem extreme for some, the public highly values libraries and their variety of services and offerings.  A new national study shows that Americans view public libraries as not only relevant to the 21^st Century, but essential to their communities.  First Lady Christie Vilsack  and State Librarian Mary Wegner were covered in the news telling about the national study called Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes about Libraries in the 21^st Century.  Mary Wegner said, "Researchers of this report heard loud and clear that people believe their communities must have well-functioning public libraries in order to be healthy and strong.  The results of the national survey mirror trends that we see in Iowa."

The Long Overdue study uncovered the following findings:

·        Libraries receive the best grades of any of the community institutions covered in this study, with four in 10 interviewees giving them an A.

·        Most people (63%) say libraries perform an “essential” service in maintaining a productive community, and three-quarters (78%) say that if libraries were closed because of lack of funding, communities would lose something important and valuable.

·        While people value libraries’ traditional services, they also value and appreciate Internet and computer access in libraries.  The public considers a combination of traditional and digital services to be priorities.

·        Americans who regularly vote in local elections, belong to civic organizations and are active in their communities are more likely than other members of the public to be well-disposed toward libraries.  Six in ten of these civically-engaged folks would favor a tax increase to cover library needs, compared with about half of less-engaged citizens.

·        More than three-quarters of library users believe libraries spend tax dollars well.  Even among non-users, 6 in 10 say they believe libraries use their funds wisely.

·        The public welcomes a greater role for libraries as positive community players, including a safe and engaging place for teens, literacy skills for a strong workforce, a center for community information, and greater access to technology.

According to Long Overdue, even with the extremely positive attitudes towards libraries and their importance for communities and individuals, libraries are vulnerable and continue to slide down the list of funding priorities in communities across the country.  The challenge for civic leaders is mainly financial.  How, civic leaders ask, can libraries compete for scarce taxpayer dollars if they are not more visible in the community and unless their advocates are more energetic and persuasive?

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation helped to support the Long Overdue study.  They have been advocates of libraries and technology access for many years.  According to them, “Now the challenge is to fund libraries at appropriate levels so that they can stay open and “stay connected.”  We face many challenges as a society, but staying connected is an important one. Meeting this challenge will require constant effort from state and local governments, businesses, foundations, nonprofits, and libraries. We must work together to focus attention in three areas: keeping libraries open, maintaining their connectivity, and training librarians to use computers and to teach others how to use them.”

The study also reported an average of 219 library building projects each year (1995-2003) across the nation.  With our new library building project, the people of this community are embracing a trend that we have been seeing across our state and country.  Our new library facility, combined with adequate funding, will enable our community to see the library as a community hub and part of the solution to today’s problems.  The library board, campaign leadership team, building committee, and library staff plan to offer a safe and engaging place for teens, improve literacy, become a center for community information, and provide free technology access.

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