LME Library FY2019 in Review

As part of our yearly review, we pulled together these figures to get an idea of the value the Lillie M. Evans Library had for our users. The Review is also available in .pdf 

Pew Internet & American Life Project

The Pew Internet & American Life Project is an initiative of the Pew Research Center, a nonprofit “fact tank” that provides information on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping America and the world. The Pew Internet Project explores the impact of the internet on children, families, communities, the work place, schools, health care and civic/political life.  

They've done surveys on Americans reading habits, how Americans value libraries and on the rise of ereading devices.  Their latest post is on 7 surprises about libraries in our surveys

Their is even a Library User Quiz so you can see how your own library habits stack up against the rest of your community—and the U.S. as a whole. Want to checkout the research they've done so far?  Go to http://libraries.pewinternet.org/about/research-timeline/ 

How Americans Value Public Libraries

New information was released today (12/11/13) on the public's view of the importance of libraries by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.  This survey called “How Americans Value Public Libraries in Their Communities” shows that Americans strongly value the role of public libraries in their communities, both for providing access to materials and resources and for promoting literacy and improving the overall quality of life.

Some of the Projects findings include:

• 95% of Americans ages 16 and older agree that the materials and resources available at public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed;
• 94% say that having a public library improves the quality of life in a community;
• 81% say that public libraries provide many services people would have a hard time finding elsewhere.
• 56% of internet users without home access say public libraries’ basic technological resources (such as computers, internet, and printers) are “very important” to them and their family, compared with 33% of all respondents.
• 49% of unemployed and retired respondents say they librarian assistance in finding information to be “very important,” compared with 41% of employed respondents.
• 47% of job seekers say help finding or applying for a job is “very important” to them and their families.
• 94% said that based on their own experiences, they would say that “public libraries are welcoming, friendly place.”

More information can be found at: http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/12/11/libraries-in-communities/

Internet is Important

This Infographic introduces a project supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS) and based upon Building Digital Communities: Framework for Action (The Framework), also funded by IMLS. The Framework recommends community-wide digital inclusion efforts involve a variety of sectors. Local leadership teams representing government, libraries and nonprofits lead the nine pilot communities. The pilot communities have taught us many lessons, including:

• Many local leaders tend to understand the need for broadband infrastructure but not the need for home broadband access, public broadband access, and digital literacy skills.

• Explaining the importance of information technology access and use is complex.

• Local government involvement is essential.

The Internet Is Important To Everyone aims to bring attention to the impact broadband has on our lives, our health, our government, our jobs, and our education while considering who among us does not use the internet and who does not have home broadband access. The infographic explains why Americans are not using the internet or purchasing home internet service and offers actions our communities can take.

Value of Public Libraries

Here's a great graphic from StateStats.org that highlights the value of public libraries.

FIND A LIBRARY NEAR YOU

FIND YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
INFORMATION INTEGRATED
WITH GOOGLE MAPS

DATA SOURCE: IMLS

Sources:

• ALA Library Fact Sheet
• Bureau of Labor Statistics - Data
• Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Northwestern University Libraries information
• MIT Library Data
• Institute of Museum and Library Services
• Census.gov - Public Libraries in the U.S. 2009
• ALA - Funding Technology Access Study
• Volunteer Match - Engaging Volunteers
• Pew Internet - Libraries, patrons & ebooks

• ALA Quotable Facts - American Libraries
• Harrison County Library - Facts and Figures
• Stanford University - Library Facts
• Library of Congress - Fascinating Facts
• Libraries for Real Life
• Houston Library - Facts
• Library Journal - Annual Library Budgets Survey
• ALA - State of American Libraries Report - 2012
• NationalService.gov - Benefits of Volunteering
• ALA - Library Operating Expenditures

Thank you to StateStats.org for providing this infographic and other free web guides and tools.

Snapshot Day - April 13th Results

On Wednesday, April 13, 2011 libraries across Illinois participated in “Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries” by collecting information, comments, and photographs from events in a typical library day. The results indicate that the Lillie M. Evans Library provides invaluable services to our community.

In Just One Day at the Lillie M. Evans Library District:

• 81 people walked through the doors of the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 153 books, movies, and more were borrowed from the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 29 people used computers at the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 45 children participated in programs at the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 4 adults participated in programs at the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 52 people visited the Lillie M. Evans Library District’s web site and blogs

Comments we received on Snapshot Day included:
“I love this library! Staff is great, friendly and helpful. Love to listen to books. Princeville is lucky to have a great library!”

“Today I asked what the inside part of a flower is. They helped me right away and I want to thank them.”

  

Statewide data was collected on April 13, 2011. Last year, 310 Illinois public, academic, and school libraries participated. Snapshot Day is a project of the Illinois Library Association, www.ila.org/snapshot.