Turns out most engaged library users are also biggest tech users

[Penny]

I came across this article on reddit and I thought it was very interesting study. I found the three main points (the bullet points) fairly surprising. I thought this was worth sharing.

[Rob]

As far as I'm concerned technology has made the library far more usable for me. I can jump on whatever device I want to search for a book and put a hold on it.

Then I get an email when it's ready to pick up. My library trips are super quick instead of trying to have to find stuff.

The one library I just started using has Sci-Fi in the "teen" section. The teen section also has most of the graphic novels/manga grouped together, but then others (Locke & Key) are in the regular Fiction section.

Similarly, they have a separate Audio book section, only the aforementioned Sci-Fi audiobooks are in Sci-Fi section. Why aren't they consistent with mixing the audiobooks? Or the graphic novels?It just makes no sense to me.

But if I put a hold in online I don't have to worry about it, it's just going to be by the door when I come in and they have self-checkout so I'm in and out in a minute.

I buy most of my books/audiobooks. I use the library to supplement my reading on stuff I'm not sure I'm going to like for a book club or things like graphic novels that I don't plan to read beyond the first time. And I only recently started using it for that. I always appreciated them though.

Needless to say I agree with their findings.

[DavidO]

To add to what Rob wrote, when I put a hold on a book at the local library via the computer, it actually searches for any copies of that book within the Madison public library system which includes about 30 libraries. So the odds of me being able to get hold of a book is much larger than it was before I could make requests online, because I was unwilling to travel to and search all 30 libraries to get a copy of a book.

[Lara Amber]

I think libraries are also rethinking what it is to be a library and doing more to reconnect, not just store books.

My local library:

1. Being more digitally accessible: my local library has a Good Reads group, a email newsletter, a Facebook page, a twitter account, and a nice website to get information to me. Plus they are on Overdrive for checking out Kindle books and audio books (about half my reading now is from two different library systems Kindle selections). With all that tech is it much easier for them to reach me and say "hey the chicks are hatching, bring your kids tonight" then anything that could come in the mail.

2. New buildings: they have replaced almost all the buildings with new facilities with lots of natural lighting, comfy spacious seating areas, coffee shops, flower gardens out front, and classroom space. They built a library this year that is actually on a school's campus to make it more accessible. Another location has plots of land for gardening classes around it (and actually has Farm in the name of the branch).

3. More offerings: homework help, classes (gardening, cooking, barbecue, painting, voice, how to use your new gadget, etc.), movie nights, book groups, even "come see the new baby chicks hatch" etc. to help draw people in.

I went years post college not going to the library at all. With the revamp plus Kindle books plus easier for them to get me information quickly, I'm there much more frequently.

[MK]

Rob wrote: "As far as I'm concerned technology has made the library far more usable for me. I can jump on whatever device I want to search for a book and put a hold on it.

Then I get an email when it's ready to pick up. My library trips are super quick instead of trying to have to find stuff."


The same. The library is SO much more accessible and functional with internet integration. I'd let my library card go inactive for about 15 yrs, just reactivated it in Jan. I've used it more since Jan than I did in the 10 yrs before I let it go inactive. It was so frustrating before, unless you just wanted to go browse and pick up whatever caught your eye. If you were actually looking for a title, you were likely to come up empty.

Now, you browse multiple collections, all at once, and it's just an errand stop to pick up reading. Not an appointment of an hour or more.

[DavidO]

MK wrote: "The same. The library is SO much more accessible and functional with internet integration. I'd let my library card go inactive for about 15 yrs, just reactivated it in Jan. I've used it more since Jan than I did in the 10 yrs before I let it go inactive. It was so frustrating before, unless you just wanted to go browse and pick up whatever caught your eye. If you were actually looking for a title, you were likely to come up empty.

Now, you browse multiple collections, all at once, and it's just an errand stop to pick up reading. Not an appointment of an hour or more. "

I think I'd blocked out just how hopeless library trips used to be until I read that.

[Rob]

@David good point on the multiple libraries. In Maryland everything is by county. You can do state-wide interlibrary loan but it's kind of a pain (read slow and not very reliable). I live pretty close to a branch in another county though so I just joined up there because they had a bunch of stuff I couldn't get from my county.

So now I have access to about 30 libraries via 2 websites. They will automatically ship me stuff from another branch if it's not available at the one closest to my house.

It'd be nicer if everything was state-wide, but there hasn't been much I couldn't get between the 2 counties so far.

My county has a branch that's 2 minutes from my house. The next county's is maybe 15 minutes away, so I tend to go there on weekends.

[Christopher]

What about those library users that haven't met that special someone yet?

[DavidO]

Christopher wrote: "What about those library users that haven't met that special someone yet?"

Good luck picking up chicks/dudes at the library, lol.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Rob wrote: "@David good point on the multiple libraries. In Maryland everything is by county. You can do state-wide interlibrary loan but it's kind of a pain (read slow and not very reliable). I live pretty cl..."

Have you tried the Marina site? I'm in MD and I use the library right by my house. The entire county catalog sucks so I get about 80% of my books via the interlibrary loans with Marina. It does take some time - I can't use it for most groups BofM except for Flights of Fantasy (due to turn around time).

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Christopher wrote: "What about those library users that haven't met that special someone yet?"


Death by pun.

[Rob]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Have you tried the Marina site?"

Marina is what I was referring to. The last two requests went unfilled for over a month before being cancelled without explanation. I was able to get those same books in a day when I joined the next county over.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Rob wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "Have you tried the Marina site?"

Marina is what I was referring to. The last two requests went unfilled for over a month. I was able to get those same books in a day when I joine..."

Yeah - what I've learned is that some books populate in Marina as available but really are not. I requested Gardens of the Moon twice back in December 2013. One of the requests is still pending.

For my Deadhouse Gates request - it arrived at my requested library in mid...February 2014. I called them last week to inquire - they had it set aside for a completely different person (who did not request it or want to read it). So I just got that one - requested that in Jan 2014.

[Rob]

Yeah. That's why I find it easier to just drive 15 minutes :-)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Rob wrote: "Yeah. That's why I find it easier to just drive 15 minutes :-)"

lol. It's too far for me.

[Valerie]

I love that my local library systems has embraced tech and in the past year and half I've used the library more than I had in at least 15 years prior.

I often say that I follow the Lazy Girl's Library plan. I only actually go into the actual library when I need to pick up a DTE of a book, and that is a matter of minutes.

Like many of you, I use the online portal to search for and reserve books at the County, having them delivered to the convenient location 2 blocks away from my home. If neither the digital library or the regular library has a copy, I use their online book request system, and they will acquire the book (provided they still have funds). Before requesting, I will also search to see if the City library. If it is there, I will get it from them instead.

My go-to library source, by far and away, is the NC Digital library, to which I have access under both my County and City profiles (double the number of reserves and checked out titles!!!) I almost always have the max number of book holds for both accounts.

Recently, I have discovered that the County library has added another source for digital content. They now offer some selections of video and audio, including audio books through Hoopla. I don't like the interface as much as Over Drive, but they do have some titles that are not available otherwise.

[L.G.]

To reiterate what some people have said, the best libraries appear to be those that have embraced and harnessed the power of technology rather than trying to swim against the current. In Australia, however, we still have a ways to go with regards to integrating technology, although we've come quite far in the past few years.

[Hank]

Tech absolutely equals engagement for me. I never checked books out of our local library until I discovered the hold system online. Goodreads (tech) has only added to my use and enjoyment. I go through my goodreads list, match it up with library availability and click a few buttons. I get emails when ready and the real beauty (for me) is that my wife volunteers at the library 2-3 days a week, I click buttons and my books magically appear on the counter. My life/wife rocks!

My current library hold list

The Long Earth - Pratchett
The Color of Magic - Pratchett
The Warded Man - Brett
The Yiddish.... - Chabon
Watchmen - Moore
The Name of the Wind - Rothfuss
The Lies of Loche Lamora - Lynch

I just downloaded in audio form The Island of Dr. Moreau and in Kindle form Altered Carbon. I might have read one or two of those without the ease of technology.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

L.G. wrote: "To reiterate what some people have said, the best libraries appear to be those that have embraced and harnessed the power of technology rather than trying to swim against the current. In Australia,..."

I would never say that libraries have "tried to swim against the current." Never.

Most libraries simply do not have the funds to do these updates.

Have you ever checked the cost of Overdrive? One library I used to have access to had to get rid of it because the price increased exponently per year. Starting at $12K, then it went to $17K, and it was priced at $28K when the library said it couldn't afford it.

And then, have you ever looked at the book prices for libraries???! They charge libraries obscene amounts for books.

This is from 2012. Source here: http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/0...

Titles available in print as new hardcovers: $65- $85
Titles available for several months, or generally timed to paperback release: $25-$50
New children’s titles available in print as hardcovers: $35-$85
Older children’s titles and children’s paperbacks: $25-$45

Here is a .PDF showing a lot of 2013 prices: http://evoke.cvlsites.org/files/2013/...

That graph shows that The Casual Vacancy wasn't even available to purchase for libraries in ebook.

The most egregious book on that list is The Racketeer. You buying that book anywhere would cost $12.99. A library buying that book would have to pay $85!!!!! That's $72.01 more for a single freaking book.