Thursday, July 05, 2012

Report: 'Libraries, Patrons, and E-books'

Pew Internet has released a new report, "Libraries, Patrons, and E-books." and Matt Weaver have some nice analyses of the new Pew report on libraries and e-books. Check it out:
“In early April the Pew Internet & American Life Project released a report about about ebook usage in the United States.
Although libraries were mentioned/discussed throughout this report, the primary focus of the report was not libraries.

Today, Pew Internet is out with a NEW report that focuses solely on library patron (public library patrons to be specific) usage of ebooks and some related issues. Kudos to Pew for the broad picture since libraries are about more than ebooks.

The report runs 80 pages.”

Direct to Full Text Report: Libraries, patrons, and e-books
Snippets:
Top-Line Numbers
Some 12% of Americans ages 16 and older who read e-books say they have borrowed an e-book from a library in the past year.
But a majority of Americans do not know that this service is provided by their local library.
But most in the broader public, not just e-book readers, are generally not aware they can borrow e- books from libraries. We asked all those ages 16 and older if they know whether they can borrow e- books from their library and 62% said they did not know if their library offered that service. Some 22% say they know that their library does lend out e-books, and 14% say they know their library does not lend out e-books.
  • 58% of all library card holders say they do not know if their library provides e-book lending services.
  • 55% of all those who say the library is “very important” to them say they do not know if their library lends e-books.
  • 53% of all tablet computer owners say they do not know if their library lends e-books.
  • 48% of all owners of e-book reading devices such as original Kindles and NOOKs say they do not know if their library lends e-books.
  • 47% of all those who read an e-book in the past year say they do not know if their library lends e-books.”


Visit the Virginia Public Library Extranet at http://www.vpl.virginia.gov

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