---
title: "Libraries and Learning"
description: "Most Americans think that local libraries serve the educational needs of their communities and families well. But many do not know about key education services libraries provide."
date: "2016-04-07"
authors:
  - name: "Lee Rainie"
    job_title: "Former Director, Internet and Technology Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/lee-rainie/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning/"
categories:
  - "Education"
  - "Happiness & Life Satisfaction"
  - "Libraries"
  - "Online Search"
  - "Platforms & Services"
datasets:
  - name: "Oct. 13-Nov. 15, 2015 – Educational Ecosystem"
    url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/october-2015-educational-ecosystem/"
---

# Libraries and Learning

## Table of Contents
1. [Libraries and Learning](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning/markdown)
2. [1. Library users and learning](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/library-users-and-learning/markdown)
3. [2. How people view libraries as part of community educational systems](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/how-people-view-libraries-as-part-of-community-educational-systems/markdown)
4. [Acknowledgments](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning-acknowledgments/markdown)
5. [Methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning-methodology/markdown)

Most Americans believe libraries do a decent job of serving the education and learning needs of their communities and their own families. A new survey by Pew Research Center shows that 76% of adults say libraries serve the learning and educational needs of their communities either “very well” (37%) or “pretty well” (39%). Further, 71% say libraries serve their own personal needs and the needs of their families “very well” or “pretty well.”

As a rule, libraries’ performance in learning arenas gets better marks from women, blacks, Hispanics, those in lower-income households, and those ages 30 and older.

[![Majorities of adults say their local libraries are serving the educational needs of their communities and their own families at least ‘pretty well’](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/04/PI_2016.04.07_Learning-and-Libraries_0-01.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning/pi_2016-04-07_learning-and-libraries_0-01/)

At the same time, many do not know that libraries offer learning-related programs and materials such as e-books, career and job resources, and high school certification courses.

#### Library users think of themselves as lifelong learners

Additionally, these views arise in a context where strong majorities of adults consider themselves “lifelong learners” and libraries around the country are working to fit their programs and services into local educational ecosystems – both the formal parts of it (such as schools) and the informal parts of it (such as “do it yourself” learning opportunities). A [recent Pew Research report](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/03/22/lifelong-learning-and-technology/) found that 73% of adults say the label “lifelong learner” applies “very well” to them. Additionally, 74% of adults have participated in personal learning experiences of various kinds in the previous 12 months – we call them personal learners. And 63% of full- and part-time workers have taken courses or done training on the job to improve their skills in the past year – we called them professional learners.

Recent library users overwhelmingly embrace those ideas and activities. Fully 97% of those who used a library or bookmobile in the past 12 months say that the term “lifelong learner” applies “very well” or “pretty well” to them and a similar share of library website users (98%) also strongly identified with being lifelong learners.

Moreover, 84% of those who visited a library in the past 12 months fit our definition of personal learner, compared with 66% of those who had not recently visited a library or bookmobile. Recent library users are more likely than others to read “how to” publications, take courses related to personal interests, attend learning-related events and meetings, and take online courses.

Interestingly, among workers, recent library users are no more likely than others to fall into the category of professional learners.

#### Library usage continues to evolve

[![Use of libraries drifts down, while use of library websites levels off](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/04/PI_2016.04.07_Learning-and-Libraries_0-02.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning/pi_2016-04-07_learning-and-libraries_0-02/)

In addition to examining the role of libraries as contributors to people’s learning, this survey also continued the Center’s benchmarking of library usage. Some 78% of adults say they have ever gone to a library, while 44% say they went to a library or bookmobile in the past 12 months.

The findings indicate a downward drift in the number of those who use physical library facilities in any given year. In our first survey on this in November 2012, 53% of adults had visited a library or bookmobile in the past 12 months.

Over the same period, the use of library websites has leveled off. In 2013, 30% of adults had used a library website over the past 12 months, while the new finding is that 31% have done so in the past year. Additionally, we found that 9% of adults had used a library-related app in the past 12 months – a first time reading for this question.[1. In 2014, the Information Policy and Access Center reported that 43% of libraries offer mobile apps.]

#### Notable shares of Americans do not know that libraries offer learning-related programs and materials

[![Many do not know if their local libraries offer key learning and education resources ](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/04/PI_2016.04.07_Learning-and-Libraries_0-03.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/libraries-and-learning/pi_2016-04-07_learning-and-libraries_0-03/)

A significant number of libraries have added education- and learning-related material, often in digital form or available on the internet. This survey shows that a portion of adults are aware of those activities, but many do not know about them, including:

E-book borrowing: Fully [90% of public libraries have e-book lending programs](http://digitalinclusion.umd.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/2014DigitalInclusionSurveyFinalRelease.pdf), according to Information Policy and Access Center (IPAC) at the University of Maryland, and 62% of adults say they know that their local libraries have such programs. At the same time, 22% say they do not know whether e-book lending is done by their libraries and another 16% say it is not done by their community libraries.

Online career and job-related resources: Some 62% of local libraries offer such resources, according to IPAC, and 41% of adults in our survey say they know their local libraries have such material. Still, 38% say they do not know if such resources are offered by their local libraries and another 21% say their libraries do not offer career- and job-related resources.

Online GED or high school equivalency classes: Some 35% of local libraries offer GED prep courses and materials, according to IPAC, and 26% of adults say they know their local libraries offer such programs. Yet nearly half (47%) say they do not know if such programs are offered by their local libraries and another 27% say these kinds of classes are not available in their communities.

Programs on starting a new business: Some 33% of local libraries offer such programs, according to IPAC, and 24% of adults say their local libraries offer programs on starting a new business. About half (47%) say they do not know if their local libraries do that and another 28% say their public libraries do not offer programs for starting a new business.

Online programs that certify that people have mastered new skills: 24% of adults say their local libraries offer such programs. However, about half of adults (49%) say they do not know if such programs are being offered and another 27% say they are not offered by their local libraries. There are no data about how many libraries offer such programs.

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**Next:** [1. Library users and learning](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/04/07/library-users-and-learning.md)