Cathy De Rosa, OCLC
John Horrigan PhD, Pew Internet & American Life Project
Cathy De Rosa, OCLC
- She started by asking, "What do we see going on with our users?"
- Users start their search on the internet. It is dominant. 84 % start there.
- Only 1% start on a library website
- In 1947-1950 there was a public library inquiry: "Where would you go to get information on nutrition?"
- Still, only 1% said library!
- Included a list of 16 technologies. It didn't matter what it was, they were using it. Put it out there, they'll come, they'll use it.
- They are heavy use of traditional resources, 55% are borrowing print books.
- What do you do less because of the internet?
- TV is the biggest loser due to internet.
- This indicates they don't want to do passive things
- Books (by a lot), information, building, research, materials, reference, entertainment (last 6 choices were much smaller)
- Library directors say: "they said books, but they mean information," but that's not true.
- From this (alpha-ordered) list: credible/trustworthy, easy to use, free, fast, recommendations, worthwhile
- answer: provides worthwhile information
- second: provides free info
- maybe this means they assume fast & free, but it probably means they're learning how to discern worthwhile information
- based on personal knowledge/common sense
- based on reputation
- replicated information in other places
- In a 5 year period, the behavior is that they feel good & confident.
- We're starting to see as a move from search to self-publishing, self-serving, social, sharing.
- These are huge behavior changes!
- She really recommends: We are the Web by Kevin Kelly (of Scan This Book)
- Most of the content on the web is being contributed by users themselves.
- Forget "if we build it they will come." They're building it.
- Contributory economics: economics will take care of themselves, but in a different way.
John Horrigan PhD, Pew Internet & American Life Project
The difference the internet makes to users...and what that means for libraries
- Digital information helps by reducing uncertainty in people's lives
- People who get health & medical information online get support from others and ask better question of health care providers.
- Those who go to government web sites take advantage of efficiency benefits & are more likely to contact the government.
- Resources found on the internet help people make decisions--often by connecting with content, often with experts or "amateur" advice-givers.
- Some evidence that those who choose to get info and news about politics online are more likely to vote.
- People who get news about politics online are better informed about both sides of political and policy issues than those who don't.
- 48 million Americans have created or posted some sort of content for the internet.
- 18% internet users have taken some online content and "remixed" or "mashed up."
- Particularly for young users, the internet attracts them to media, supplants traditional media, sets in motion.
- The "long tail"
- Does the long tail thicken the leading edge?
- Nearing inflection point of greater impact of internet on society
- Internet increasingly embedded in things (RFID)
- Network speed and broadband uptake will grow
- The new demands are the traditional roles of libraries
- Essence of service is to help customer allocate attention
- Information wants to be free, but it doesn't always want to be organized
Karen G. Schneider points out that this "was basically hearing a mashup of the last four big OCLC reports" and I totally agree. There was a remix of Pew Internet and American Life reports as well.