Generation Y most active users of libraries

Happy new year!

The results of a recent study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project has found that the biggest users of libraries are the “tech-loving group known as Generation Y”.   See:  http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2849864420071230

The co-author of the report is quoted as saying:  “Internet use seems to create an information hunger and it is information-savvy young people who are most likely to visit libraries”

Many academic libraries have seen dramatic increases in the use of our physical spaces by students.   Gate counts have risen dramatically despite the availability of online resources.

At McMaster this has certainly been true for us at the Mills Library (Social Sciences and Humanities) where we just reported (yet again) an increase in gate count.  I attribute the increases to improvements we’ve made including the learning commons; our laptop loan program; and a recently renovated “laptop room”.

Interestingly, the use of Thode Library for Science and Engineering declined between 2006 and 2007 by 3%, which is substantial in terms of volume.  However, we anticipate that the changes we are planning, which are reflective of how students use libraries today, will draw students back into the library where we will be able to better engage them in support of their academic activities.

It’s good to know that we are producing a generation of students that value access to information and the services we provide for them in our libraries.