Have you seen the newest OCLC membership report?  It is called Perceptions of Libraries 2010: Context and Community and you can download it for free.  This publication provides updated information and new insights into information consumers and their online information habits, preferences and perceptions. Particular attention is paid to how the current economic downturn has affected information-seeking behaviors and how those changes are reflected in the use and perception of libraries.
The OCLC membership report explores:
•        Technological and economic shifts since 2005
•        Lifestyle changes Americans have made during the recession, including increased use of the library and other online resources
•        How a negative change to employment status impacts use and perceptions of the library
•        How Americans use online resources and libraries in 2010
•        Perceptions of libraries and information resources based on life stage, from teens to college students, to senior Americans.
The membership report is based on U.S. data from an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of OCLC. OCLC analyzed and summarized the results in order to produce this report.
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 Download the free report here or order print copies of the report for a nominal fee to cover the cost of printing and shipping. It is recommended using legal size paper when it is printed.
Category Archives: Let’s Talk
Digital Life Activities
How are people using the internet? According to a very interesting website, TNS Digital Life, in very practical ways.Â
Socially in order to connect and share with others – for example, Flickr
Keeping up to date on the weather, news, sport scores and events
Accessing Email accounts
Watching videos, listening to the radio/music and on demand TV
Getting information to help solve something – for example uisng google to help solve the Sunday NY Times Crossword Puzzle
Using the Internet to file tax returns, online banking or paying/ checking bill accounts
Shopping online – movie tickets, airline tickets, clothes etc
Researching prices of large ticket items whether the final purchasing is done online or offline
Getting directionsÂ
Pursuing personal interests, hobbies and blogging
Playing online games
Are We Fit?
Steven Bell wrote an interesting article in the October 2010 American Libraries – “Fit Libraries Are Future-Proof”. He writes “to achieve fitness libraries need to adapt to change and to stay relevant”. He shares his 12 Steps to Library Fitness.  They are very similar with the PLA Planning and Managing for Results.
1)Â Listen and observe what our users want and are using – for example mobile devices.
2) Does being fit involve our resources – including money, staff, collections, equipment and building?
3) What does our community want and expect? A fit library must know the community and serve it.
4) Get out of the building and visit community agencies, businesses, schools, etc and let them know what our libraries have to offer.
5) Take a good hard look at ourselves – what are our sacred cows? Why are we doing certain things? Is it what the community and our users need? Is there a better way to do our jobs? What is broken and needs to change?
6) Are we flexible? Can we adapt to change and new technologies?
7) Stay up to date and allow yourself time to learn about new things and ideas.
8) Who are your passionate users? How are they using your library? Will they support us as budgets get tighter?
9) Be proactive to solve problems that affect our users and as a result, improve our services.
10) Is the library important in the community? Is it perceived as essential?
11) What are the core values in our library? Have the staff and the trustees internalized them? Are we speaking with one voice?
12)Â Continually evaluate our services and make changes as necessary if something is not working.