PEW RESEARCH CENTER: Last week, Salon published a piece by Laura Miller entitled “Bring back shushing librarians,” focusing on some of the findings from our recent report on library services. “[T]here’s a lot to be said for that shushing,” Miller writes, adding, “I’ve long believed that one of the most precious resources libraries offer their patrons is simple quiet.”…
One of the interesting findings that surfaced throughout our research, whether in our nationally representative phone survey, in-person focus groups, and our online panel of librarians, was that Americans want many things from their libraries. About three-quarters said that they want quiet study spaces available, but a similar number said they want programs and classes for children and teens, for instance — a decidedly un-quiet service!
If there’s one thing our research shows, it’s that there’s no one thing people want their libraries to be. They want their libraries to be lots of things, a place where they can study and meet with friends and attend meetings — and more. (And different patrons want different things — and patrons in different communities have different needs, as well.) But we do see some common themes, one of which is that quiet spaces are still an important part of what people expect from their libraries… (more)
EDITOR: Years of efforts and hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent to increase the size of the Lancaster Public Library by half and totally renovate the facility. I was to provide a central library that would serve all of the important functions the survey indicates the public requires. The project was aborted because three million dollars promised from State aid was diverted to pay the ‘cost overruns’ of the Convention Center, cost overruns that were known would happen at the outset.
