Millenials more likely to use public libraries than other age groups

[lunasun]

Survey results released by Pew this week show that millennials are substantially more likely than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers to use public libraries.
Fifty-three percent of millenials, defined as those between 18 and 35 when the survey was conducted last fall, told Pew that they had visited a public library in the prior 12 months. That compares with only 45% of Gen Xers (aged 36-51), 43% of Baby Boomers (52-70) and 36% of what Pew calls the Silent Generation, aged 71-88.
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Pew is careful to point out that its survey specifically asked about public library usage, hopefully filtering out time college students spent at university libraries.Previous Pew surveys have shown that millenials are book lovers. But another possible explanation for their greater use of public libraries is that they have more need for the free or inexpensive services, from DVD checkouts to internet terminals, offered there. That’s not only because they’re earlier in their careers, but because millennials are far worse off financially than their parents were at the same age.
http://fortune.com/2017/06/24/millennials-use-public-libraries-more-than-other-generations/

Support your public library if not for you then for the future

[Demsrule86]

1. The millenials in my house have phones, kindles, laptops, tablets and desktops...

They never go to the library and do everything electronically...now me I love the library and read the free magazines as well as browse books...but I have a kindle too and tons of library cards...it opens up an entire new world...so we need both. I love books. We don't have book club on DU do we?

[Squinch]

2. I love the library too, but now I also love my library's digital service where I can download books

- print and books on tape - for two weeks and then return them.

I prefer a nice book in my hands, but this is so convenient I find myself using it more and more.

[Demsrule86]

6. And you can get online only library cards for areas that are too far to travel too.

This is great and really expands your options...I have quite a few library cards for various areas. You can pay a small fee for out of state...I have access to some New York Libraries which my Bronx born husband adores because they have put a great deal of
local history in eBooks.

[Squinch]

7. The Westchester Library System also has a lot of local New York history. They

use Over Drive, though, which is not a great program. I'm used to it now, but it's not very user friendly.

[crazycatlady]

10. I grew up in Westchester

I still use the Overdrive from there using my mom's library card.

If you're a resident of NY you can get a free NYC library card and use their overdrive too.

[Squinch]

11. Didn't know that! Thank you!

[crazycatlady]

12. You just have to prove NY residency

So emailing them a pic of your drivers license suffices.

[Demsrule86]

15. I have used overdrive for years...are there better programs? I know how it works and have had few

problems, but there was a learning curve...and just when it was perfect they changed it...had to start over!

[Blue_true]

3. The thing I see people doing most at the library when I am there

is use the print services from the library computers. The libraries in my county are nice, but a bit primitive on image services, no scanners, no fax connected to the network. Print looks to be pay per print, but I have heard the fee is reasonable. Good home printers are more useful in things like fax, scan, image color control, no need to use the library.

[Demsrule86]

5. True that. I love libraries...I love books. I spent many happy days in libraries and also book

stores. Our nearest book store is 28 miles! I hear we are getting a Barnes and noble in Youngstown..hope so.

[Blue_true]

8. I feel.

That bookstores are a thing of the past, sadly, with ebooks and the ease of publishing them, viewing the summaries and purchasing them. I really expect Amazon to go into ebooks in a major way soon, if it has not, that would open up blockbuster sales for it if the company post ebooks for unknowns that become the next Steinbeck, James Baldwin, William Faulkner, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, ect. Plus Anazon doing that would be a boon for tiny publishers that can post ebooks for a minor fee with Amazon taking a 25-33% of sales proceeds off the top, everyone makes money with minimal risk.

But having written the drivel above, there is nothing like the tactile feel of a hardcover book, the musty scent of it's pages waffling to your nostrils, it's beautifully laid out paragraphs so satisfying to one's eyes, the timeless beauty of it's hardcover design so unforgettable. I better stop before I finish off the rising orgasm. 😳😇

[Demsrule86]

14. I know. And Amazon has gone into ebooks big time...we have kindle unlimited...and some of the books

are original and found only on Amazon...they have tons of books. I love books too.

[crazycatlady]

9. I'm borderline millennial

(and I also don't consider someone who's 18 a millennial but that's another post-- they're Gen Z).

I use the library a lot but you don't see me there often. I do read books electronically (easier to travel that way) and check them out via the Overdrive app from the library. Best part is the file expires once the loan is over. No fines to worry about.

[DonCoquixote]

4. good for them

they can do the digital stuff and read books. What a concept, too bad many did NOT get that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. Fortune used "millenial" in the original title, then corrected to 'millennial'; both are in the text

I think when you copied it, the title had 'millenials' - because the title I see in my browser for the tab still has that (though the URL has 'millennial'). The tag uses 'millenial'. We get 'millennial' in the first paragraph, and 'millenial' in the second. The last paragraph uses both.

I wouldn't mind so much, but this is an article about using libraries. For the record, it's "millennial". The "-enn-" comes from the Latin "annus" for "year", like "annual". It does not have anything to do with "anus".

[cwydro]

16. Lol. Well stated.

I'm a boomer who is a frequent library user. I only see millennials on the computers, if that.

The young folks I see are usually mothers with children getting books for them (thank god that is still a thing).

But in the stacks? Nope. Boomers and older. My mom was a regular library patron until her death at 90. She passed the love of libraries on to me.

[tritsofme]

17. We went to libraries much more often with small children

I imagine this could be related as well.

[ananda]

18. I try to use the public library here ..

.. but we have a very poor system re
books on the shelves or immediately available.

So I have been buying ebooks for $1.99 and
putting them on my phone and iPad.

[NCTraveler]

19. I had no clue that many people use the public library.

I would have guessed less than half of what they are showing.