Great findings coming out of the Pew Research Center on the value Americans place on their public libraries. The results were posted earlier in the month. See http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/12/11/libraries-in-communities/ for details.
Consider some of the results.
- 95% of Americans ages 16 and older agree that the materials and resources available at public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed;
- 95% say that public libraries are important because they promote literacy and a love of reading;
- 94% say that having a public library improves the quality of life in a community;
- 81% say that public libraries provide many services people would have a hard time finding elsewhere
- 94% said that based on their own experiences, they would say that “public libraries are welcoming, friendly place.”
- 91% said that they personally have never had a negative experience using a public library, either in person or online.
- 67% said that the public library nearest to where they live could be described as a “nice, pleasant space to be”; another 22% say it’s an “okay space, but could use some improvements.”