I had the same thoughts Jane. Two data sets I've seen show that public library usage has increased every year for 11 years except 1999 and that when GDP goes down usage really shoots up. Haven't started to read all the essays yet but look forward to the outcomes of this study.
Matt Goldner
Matthew R. Goldner
Product & Technology Advocate
OCLC, Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
614.764.6405
goldnerm_at_oclc.org
http://www.oclc.org http://worldcat.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Next generation catalogs for libraries [mailto:NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Jacobs, Jane W
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 9:17 AM
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Empower, Inform, Enrich - Report on public libraries
This starts with one interesting premise:
* How can we reverse the current trend of decline in library usage and
grow the numbers using their local library?
I wonder if this is really true in the UK? It seems that our experience
in the US is that library use continues to rise, especially in a bad
economy, when funding is cut. Hence, even if there are "gross" declines
in usage, would these be a reflection of cuts in hours and services
(usage per hours of opening) and hence more declines in availability
than usage?
JJ
**Views expressed by the author do not necessarily represent those of
the Queens Library.**
Jane Jacobs
Asst. Coord., Catalog Division
Queens Borough Public Library
89-11 Merrick Blvd.
Jamaica, NY 11432
tel.: (718) 990-0804
e-mail: Jane.W.Jacobs_at_queenslibrary.org
FAX. (718) 990-8566
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Received on Wed Dec 02 2009 - 09:26:16 EST