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Gen Y Hits the Library the Most -- But Not For Books
Posted by
timothy
on Tue Jan 01, 2008 04:27 AM
from the checking-out-cuties dept.
from the checking-out-cuties dept.
Lucas123 writes "More than half of all Americans visited a library this past year and, of those, most were from Generation Y, the tech-loving young adults aged 18-30 years, according to a recent survey. The reason most cited for visiting their local public archive? Not books. Most were seeking gaming software programs, characters in the Second Life virtual world and online help with homework."
Another way to think about the results: about 47 percent of Americans didn't visit a library even once last year.
Another way to think about the results: about 47 percent of Americans didn't visit a library even once last year.
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And a hot date who reads... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:And a hot date who reads... (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:And a hot date who reads... (Score:5, Funny)
(I had to work this year, I've got an excuse)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Fair enough. Interestingly, I met my wife when I was working at the library (computer hotline), and had to take the library time sheet over to Computing Services in another building. So, I didn't meet her in the library, but I did meet her because I was working in the library. We're still together 12 years later.
As for going to the library to use the computers... I was doing that over 20 years ago! Who knew I'd be one of the trendsetters.
(Their Apple ][e kicked my TI-99/4A's arse. I still have tho
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
To stay on topic though, the University of Leeds was the last place where I spent a lot of time at the library (Peopleware, Code Complete, The Limits to Growth [2nd ed], The World at the End of Time...). That was in 2000. I've been ordering books from Amazon ever since, since the books I now read cannot usually be found in local libraries or bookstores (I live in France/Switzerla
That would be me (Score:5, Insightful)
I guess I'm a knuckle dragging idiot. Or, I use a much easier resource (the Internet) for my research. I buy books instead of borrowing them. So ya, I'm not terribly surprised that there are a bunch of other Americans just like me.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Took the words right out of my mouth... (Score:2)
I think they have done a good job adapting to the times. One of the things I still like libraries for is browsing through a rather large set of magazines, or of
Re:That would be me (Score:4, Interesting)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
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Some people might also like to be able to mark them or write on them, but I would never do that.
I also love to give or lend books I have liked, and I thinks it is better to do so with books that are mine
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Some people might also like to be able to mark them or write on them, but I would never do that.
I do it all the time and it's very good: While I read a book my mind works all the time and I'm thinking a lot, and if I have an idea I write it on the margin, or elaborate some of the mathematics that the author didn't explain much. My marginalia go back 10+ years, so I can see all my life in them, as I often include the current date with most marginalia. It's also funny when you lend a book... you can actually communicate with fellow nerds only with marginalia. All my books are treated as workbooks,
Re:That would be me (Score:5, Interesting)
Easy: I buy reference books, not fiction. :-) I don't even read the whole thing once, but I do read many portions repeatedly, and it tends to be demand-driven random access. That said, I did read "Effective C++" pretty much linearly cover-to-cover when I got it, as well as "The Algorithm Design Manual." I'll still go back and reference bits randomly.
Aside from that, there's my, erm, "throne of learning" book set, which currently consists of "Areas of My Expertise" (which I did read cover to cover, and will probably re-read bits of for a muse), and "A New Kind of Science", which I'm about 1/3rd of the way through. ANKOS is big enough that I can't possibly read it as a borrowed book. And, it has pretty pictures... I'm sure I'll go back and borrow some of the automata to repurpose them. And as for having books in the john... I know I'm not alone.
So, I guess there's two rationales: Reference books get reused, and many people read books while in the bathroom. As for the former, it's nice to keep the book. As for the latter... wouldn't you like one that hasn't been in the bathroom yet?
--JoeParent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Tat being said, there is something nice about looking at an entire room filled with shelves of books and know that you've read everything there. And just picking something out when you have a few unexpected free minutes to browse through.
And, yes, I have a (paper & digital) personal library, and wouldn't trade it away.
Re: (Score:2)
If I were to go to library every time I want to read books, I would read much much less.
It is too much of a hassle, especially since people dont plan too much for these items.
What I do is, every 3 months or so, I buy a bunch of books and store it.
Later, whenever I am in the mood of reading books, I take one and read it.
My guess is that this is what most people would be doing.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: Reasons to buy books (Score:2)
1. Borrowing a book creates an obligation to keep track of it, and then return it in good condition without any accidents. Since everything I read is alongside a snack, I manage to smudge the page of at least a book a year, sometimes two. If it's yours, and you're not a perfectionist, you don't have to care. Plus, I was paying attention in the "active reading" class. I write notes all aroun
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Like the GP, I haven't been to a library since college, but I read quite a bit.
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For those of you who buy books regularly, do you really read them 3+ times? Or is there some other reason you do it instead of going to the library?
Why? Well, it's partly trying to help out artists by supporting their work, and it's partly because for a few dollars I can own a work of art.
I never bought books when I was a student, but always borrowed them from the library. Now that I'm finally earning a decent wage, I've gone back and bought my favourite books so that I own a copy. Not only can I re-read them at my pleasure (and yes -- I do re-read my favourite books), not only can I lend them out to my friends and share the love of good literature
Internet not that great a resource. (Score:2, Informative)
They can eat me, especially because they demand financial and personal information big brother can use to track me.
I'll access my university's resources under alum privileges.
Libraries aren't just for information (Score:2)
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Library? (Score:2, Funny)
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I don't visit libraries either...I have a library (Score:5, Insightful)
Do I offset this? (Score:5, Interesting)
I can't get a single friend to visit the library, but when I see a book I *know* they will love, I check it out for them, and make them borrow it. I routinely have to borrow ~4 books at a time, just so I have one to read.
So, how about average number of books checked out, because I can't be the only person who brings home entertainment for the masses.
Agreed. (Score:2, Insightful)
And I'll go a bit more 'lug-head' here: libraries kick some serious ass.
After finishing an engineering degree, then heading back into the library for leisure, I find the damn thing chock full of damn near everything I had previously wanted to sink time into, but simply didn't have
With a decent job and
I'm one of the 47% that didn't visit... (Score:2, Informative)
As far as books go, I have a better technical reference than my local public library does and I have all the fiction I really want to read (also quite large).
Re: (Score:2)
Another way to think about the results: about 47 percent of Americans didn't visit a library even once last year.
My 1st thought was, "Hey, but even more of you didn't bother to vote last time 'round."
I worked in a public library for 9 years, 1992 until 2000. This saw many changes and developments (online databases, CD-ROMs, www, etc) and to this day I am amazed at how many students, parents, business leaders, teachers, etc STILL cannot grasp basic search/database interrogation strategies.
While I am sure that you are across it, many people benefit from a little expertise at finding those hidden gems of information (
Why does it matter? (Score:5, Insightful)
Anymore, I either get the information from the internet or I buy the books.
Re:Why does it matter? (Score:4, Interesting)
It was once a treasure trove of useful technical manuals in fields like engineering, computer science, medicine and the like. The fiction section was even pretty good with a fairly wide range. Now it seems that it's mostly popular romance trite and not much more.
I still go there for the kids books (yes, a Slashdork spawned a child process), which they keep fairly current.
That said, I must concede I have a couple of electronics magazines that they have only recently resubscribed to.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Something wrong with buying your own books? (Score:2)
"Infotainment Center" (Score:3, Insightful)
I think it would be appropriate for libraries to change their names to be called "Infotainment Centers", and for books to largely be replaced by computers, software, and DVD collections. Computer gaming should be perfectly acceptable -- because it is no different than people going to a traditional library and reading fantasy books or other forms of fiction. There are commercial "computer gaming rooms" and "Internet cafes" appearing in shopping plazas -- but, just as libraries have long coexisted with massive bookstore chains (Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc), the "Infotainment Center" can coexist with commercial "Internet cafes" and gaming rooms.
There are certainly many valuable books from decades past, and it will take a long time for all of that information to be available online -- and so I hope the traditional book-archiving aspect of libraries continues for a while -- but I think a plain computer lab, for GAMING, WATCHING DVDs, for AMUSEMENT, in addition to research and learning, should be the goal of libraries. The library will serve the modern public better -- and I think recreation is a valid way to serve the public -- and the idealists who hope to hook people on "more productive" or "more educational" things like reading, reading classic literature, and learning, might benefit from having the target audience already in the facility. (I'm guessing that Borders and Barnes and Noble booksellers have discovered that letting potential customers read books at their leisure, while drinking coffee, or even studying for exams with fellow students, is all OK because having people in the store will ultimately lead to more sales of books and coffee. In the same way, getting people in to the library by having X-Box, the latest video games, open WiFi, porn DVDs, whatever, might provide opportunities to encourage "more productive" or "more educational" activities.)
Ya, I don't go to the library either... (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Good point. When I first moved down to my new job, before my wife had graduated college, I'd spend a lot of time at B&N "renting" books for $3/cup at their coffee shop. (Typically these were $60 - $90 tomes from the engineering section.) Every so often, I'd actually buy one that seemed worthwhile. With B & N shops every couple miles, it's just too easy. I couldn't even tell you where the libraries are in that neighborhood. But I can tell you where the bookstores are.
In the end, I think I en
Time's at a premium... (Score:2)
I go to the library all the time. (Score:3, Interesting)
Use your library. Donate digital media. Your entire community will thank you.
Skewed (Score:2)
Things change. Get over it. (Score:2)
For those of us old enough to remember when the local library was pretty much the only large source of information, this is a bit sad. But, not necessarily bad, just another example of things changing. With all the information available on the internet, there is less need for me to go to a library. Also, when I was that age stores like Borders -- with a huge selection of books and chairs whe
I do (Score:2)
One big problem... (Score:3, Insightful)
I was at my towns Library maybe a dozen times in 2007 -- and while it may be close, I'm fairly certain I donated more new books than I checked out books there.
Unless the books you read are VERY mainstream (ie, your reading is dictated by talkshow hosts), libraries just won't work anymore.
!Library (Score:4, Funny)
All the world's information is on wikipedia! One or two pages can encapsulate the information on every subject!
Besides, how else would we learn about how the Black Panthers guard Vibranium?
A resource when you need it. (Score:3, Insightful)
When I lived in an urban area, I never went near a library. I could get broadband, there were lot of bookstores, and there were movie rental places on almost every corner. A couple of years ago I moved to a very rural area and rediscovered the joy of going to a library. There was no broadband in the area. The nearest bookstore was 75 miles away. The local video rental had about 150 titles. So any option to use the Internet, buy books, or rent movies was limited, to put it mildly. Then I visited the library. Broadband connection. Books to choose from, and if they didn't have it, they could get it. A huge selection of movie titles. All for free!
I still live in this area, and we now have broadband, but the book stores are still far away, and movie rental options still suck. So I still visit my local library regularly. I get to check out books, and if I do like them, I'll go ahead and order them from one of the on-line retailers for a personal copy. If I don't like it, I'm only out some time.
In this area at least, the library is a valuable resource, and one that's there when you need it. If you don't have the money, or thing like broadband, bookstores, or movie rentals simply aren't there, the library is. Even if you aren't in need of it now, it doesn't mean it's irrelevant or useless.
Re:Generation Y? (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
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No you were just born late enough in generation X that you have a little bit of overlap (2 years) with the start of the next generation.
If you aren't born in the first ~30 years of any particular generation, you are forced to deal with the realities of overlapping with the next generation, as those of your own generation become adults, and start producing the next.
The younger you are, the more dramatic the range of ages in a single gene