In addition to use habits, Pew compiled a laundry list of items patrons want from their libraries:

  • The ability to borrow books (80%).

  • More e-books (83%).

  • IPS navigation for locating books (62%).

  • Access to reference librarians (80%).

  • Redbox-style kiosks for renting books in public spaces outside the library (63%).

  • Free access to Internet-connected computers (77%).

  • An online “ask a librarian” service (73%).

  • Access to library materials via apps (63%).

  • An area to try out new devices (69%).

  • Amazon-style recommendation engines based on past checkout history (64%).

  • Free literacy programs for young children (82%).

Yet when asked whether they would be willing to give up existing resources to make room for these things — to move some books to off-site storage centers to make sense for a device-testing center, for instance — only 20% of survey participants said they were in favor. Thirty-six percent said libraries should “definitely” not move books off-site.

Which sums up the whole problem, really.

—- 

All of this makes me shake my head when I see the stories that have come out about “bookless libraries”.