A presentation at the Library of Virginia on April 28, 2008.

1. Immovable Objects and Irresistible Forces The Library of Virginia April 18, 2008 George Needham Vice President, Member Services

2. Our “inconvenient truths”

4. The Attention/Resources Balance

6. OCLC Reports

8. Using libraries today?

9. Using libraries today?

10. Implications

11. Implications

12. Implications

13. Information: an inconvenient truth “ Where would you for information on nutrition?” Consult a professional source 56% Look it up in a book 18% Ask a friend/family member 9% Consult a magazine 8% Consult a library 1%

14. The Public Library Inquiry, 1947-50

15. Extinction Timeline

16. Extinction Timeline

18. How you would rate information available from each source? Adapted from Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (OCLC, 2005) Percentage rating impressions “favorable” or “very favorable” Search engines 88% Libraries 79% Bookstores 77% Online bookstores 58% Online libraries 46%

19. What sources have you actually used? Adapted from Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (OCLC, 2005) US respondents E-mail 74% Search engines 71% Instant messaging 53% Online bookstores 52% Library Web Site 31% Blogs 19% Ask an expert/online question service 15%

20. Comparing libraries to search engines Adapted from Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (OCLC, 2005) Attributes Libraries Search Engines Trustworthy/credible sources 60% 40% Accurate, quality information 56% 44%

21. Comparing libraries to search engines Adapted from Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (OCLC, 2005) Attributes Libraries Search Engines Trustworthy/credible sources 60% 40% Accurate, quality information 56% 44% Reliable/always available 28% 72% Cost-effective 25% 75% Easy to use 15% 85% Convenient 11% 89% Fast 8% 92%

22. Trustworthiness of information Adapted from Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (OCLC, 2005) Information from libraries is… Less trustworthy than information from search engines 9% More trustworthy than information from search engines 21% NO DIFFERENCE in trustworthiness 70%

23. Comparing librarians to search engines Adapted from Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources (OCLC, 2005) Assistance from librarian was… Much better 20% Better 24% NO DIFFERENCE 43% Worse 9% Much worse 3%

24. “Significant Misalignment”

25. Pew’s “Digital Footprints” report

26. Privacy? What’s that?

28. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Subjects of interest Items checked out online from a library Items browsed for on an online bookstore Items browsed for at a bookstore Items checked out at a library 20% 21% 22% 28% Subjects searched on a library Web site Subjects searched while at the library Items purchased from at a bookstore Items purchased from an online bookstore Subjects searched on the Internet Social security number What the public considers private 16% Books read Adapted from Sharing, Privacy and Trust in Our Networked World (OCLC, 2007). 18% 18% 18% 19% 19% 19% 73%

29. What the public considers private

30. Finally, a convenient truth!

31. Collaboration

33. Library collaboration

35. Good grief…

36. Exercise time

38. Roles for the library % agreeing or completely agreeing that this is a library’s role A place to learn 85% A place to read 81% Make needed info freely available 80% Support literacy 78% Provide research support 77% Provide internet access 73% Promote kids’ learning/development 73% Provide free needed info for less fortunate 71% Place to get books/videos/music 70%

39. “Tear down these walls!”

40. User-centric libraries

41. Jargon Free Libraries

42. Jargon Free Libraries

44. The Public Library Inquiry, 1947-50

45. What they wanted then…

47. Let’s keep up the conversation! George Needham 800-848-5878, extension 5173 [email_address] http://scanblog.blogspot.com