Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century
- From: J Flenner <varney@[redacted]>
- Subject: Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century
- Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 15:09:50 EDT
http://www.publicagenda.org/research/research_reports_details.cfm?list=99
Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the
21st Century
In this survey of the public, we find Americans prize public library
service and see libraries as potential solutions to many communities'
most pressing problems, from universal access to computers to the need
for better options for keeping teens safe and productive. But few
Americans are aware of the increasingly tenuous financial picture faced
by many libraries. Forty-five percent give an "A" to their local
community for maintaining well-run libraries, far ahead of any other
community institutions, including schools, parks and police. Those who
think public libraries are primarily used by folks who can't afford
bookstores are clearly mistaken -- higher-income families are even more
likely to use public libraries than low-income families. Prepared with
support from the Americans for Libraries Council and funding from the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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