[Web4lib] Cognitive dissonance regarding recent Pew report

[Patricia A. Kreitz]

And, as we're struggling with right now, the library does a lot of 
behind-the-scenes work to provide internet access to materials and so 
people using "the internet" may not realize the role libraries play in 
enriching what the users find.
--Pat Kreitz, SLAC


On Tue, 8 Jan 2008, Metcalf, Steve wrote:

> Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 11:26:24 -0800
> From: "Metcalf, Steve" <MetcalfS at evergreen.edu>
> To: B.G. Sloan <bgsloan2 at yahoo.com>, web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: RE: [Web4lib] Cognitive dissonance regarding recent Pew report 
> 
> What were the percentages before there was such a thing as Internet?
>
> Steve Metcalf
> THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of B.G. Sloan
> Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:06 AM
> To: web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Web4lib] Cognitive dissonance regarding recent Pew report
>
>
>  I'll admit upfront that survey research and statistics are not my
> strong suit, so maybe I am missing something. But something strikes me
> as odd about the publicity surrounding this report. Maybe I'm
> misunderstanding something and someone can set me straight?
>
>  I finally took a look at the recent Pew report that's being touted as
> challenging the assumption that libraries are losing relevance in the
> internet age. (Report at:
> http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/Pew_UI_LibrariesReport.pdf.) There's
> something that I find confusing...
>
>  The IMLS press release is titled "Survey Challenges Belief that the
> Internet Reduces Library Use". One of the paragraphs in the Pew press
> release has this lead sentence: "The survey results challenge the
> assumption that libraries are losing relevance in the internet age."
>
>  That sounds very encouraging. My confusion comes after reading the
> report itself. Page v of the report lists the following research
> question: "What sources of information do people consult when they need
> to address problems?"  Here's the major finding for that question: "More
> people turned to the internet than any other source of information and
> support, including experts, family members, government agencies, or
> libraries." The respondents picked public libraries dead last (seventh
> out of seven). The report notes: "13% went to the public library."
>
>  Then (on page 22) the report says: "Twelve percent of respondents say
> it is very likely they would go to the public library in the future for
> information or assistance in dealing with a problem, and 17% say they
> are somewhat likely to do so. Another 17% say they are somewhat unlikely
> to go to the public library and 54% say they are very unlikely to go in
> the future." I take that to mean that nearly three fourths of
> respondents said they would be unlikely to go to the library for
> assistance with future problems?
>
>  I'm having trouble seeing how the actual report itself supports the
> contention that the results challenge the assumption that libraries are
> losing relevance in the internet age.
>
>  Like I said...maybe I am misunderstanding something?
>
>  Bernie Sloan
>
>
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