---
title: "Notes from ALA 2012"
description: "Director Lee Rainie shared findings from our new report on e-book lending at libraries at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference on Sunday, June 24. He also discussed general reading trends, the rise of e-books, and library patrons’ experiences with e-book borrowing. Research Specialist Kathryn Zickuhr also discussed our research at a session of the ALA’s Spectrum Leadership Institute on Monday, June 25."
date: "2012-07-09"
authors:
  - name: "No Author"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2012/07/09/notes-from-ala-2012/"
categories:
  - "E-Reading"
  - "Libraries"
  - "Mobile"
---

# Notes from ALA 2012

**The Rise of E-Reading**

In case you missed it: Our director, Lee Rainie, shared findings from our [new report](http://libraries.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/2012/06/22/libraries-patrons-and-e-books/) on e-book lending at libraries at the [2012 ALA Annual Conference](http://www.ala.org/transforminglibraries/rise-e-reading) on Sunday, June 24. He also discussed general reading trends, the rise of e-books, and library patrons’ experiences with e-book borrowing. **His slides are available [here](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2012/06/24/the-rise-of-e-reading-2/).**

(Want to read more? Most of the data in his talk came from our new report, “[Libraries, patrons, and e-books](http://libraries.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/2012/06/22/libraries-patrons-and-e-books/),” as well as our previous e-books report, “[The rise of e-reading](http://libraries.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/2012/04/04/the-rise-of-e-reading/).”)

Lee will also be discussing this material at the [ALA Virtual Conference](http://www.learningtimes.net/ala12/program/#day1) on July 18 starting at 11:45 a.m., EDT.

**Digital Differences**

I also had a great time discussing our research at a session of the ALA’s Spectrum Leadership Institute on Monday, June 25. We talked about [trends in technology access and use](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/Reports/2012/Digital-differences.aspx) among various demographic groups, as well as [what these changes might mean for libraries](http://libraries.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/2012/06/22/part-8-final-thoughts/). **My slides are available [here](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2012/06/25/digital-differences-3/).**

As I mentioned during my talk, senior research specialist Aaron Smith just wrote [a new report](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/Reports/2012/Cell-Internet-Use-2012.aspx) on “cell mostly” internet users—the 17% of cell phone owners who do most of their online browsing on their phone, rather than a computer or other device. It not only updates our 2011 data, but explores the data in greater detail. As always, it’s available in full [online](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/Reports/2012/Cell-Internet-Use-2012.aspx) and as a [PDF](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/~/media/Files/Reports/2012/PIP_Cell_Phone_Internet_Access.pdf).

At my session, there were a number of great questions about our research methodology, especially why we do not report findings related to Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. Our surveys cover people in all groups, but there are some pretty technical reasons why we do not cite statistics on relatively small demographic groups. [A post on the main Pew Internet website](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Commentary/2010/August/Why-not-report-Asians.aspx) explains some of the reasons.

Be sure to check back later for more blog posts exploring different aspects of our [latest report](http://libraries.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/2012/06/22/libraries-patrons-and-e-books/), coming soon!

*Note: Links to slides updated 7/1/2014*