This document summarizes survey results about the behaviors and preferences of U.S. public library users. It finds that over half of U.S. residents have public library cards. Power patrons, who visit libraries weekly, tend to be middle-aged women with college degrees who borrow and check out many books. The surveys also show that library use influences book purchasing, with many patrons buying books they first borrowed or discovered at the library. While interest in ebooks is growing, most libraries still have limited ebook collections.
6. Meet the P ower P atron Customers who visit the library at least weekly Source = Patron Profiles 2011 61% female
7. Meet the P ower P atron Customers who visit the library at least weekly Source = Patron Profiles 2011 61% female Average age = 48
8. Meet the P ower P atron Customers who visit the library at least weekly Source = Patron Profiles 2011 61% female Average age = 48 Average income = $61K
9. Meet the P ower P atron Customers who visit the library at least weekly Source = Patron Profiles 2011 61% female Average age = 48 Average income = $61K 62% with a college degree or higher
10. Meet the P ower P atron 61% female Customers who visit the library at least weekly Average age = 48 Average income = $61K 62% with a college degree or higher 39% with kids under 18 Source = Patron Profiles 2011
11. What They Do at the Library Source = Patron Profiles 2012 All users Power Patrons Borrow books & media 46% 65% Browse shelves for books & media 37% 59% Search online catalog for books & media 23% 40% Place holds on print books & media 23% 43%
12. What They Do at the Library Discovery Discovery Source = Patron Profiles 2012 All users Power Patrons Borrow books & media 46% 65% Browse shelves for books & media 37% 59% Search online catalog for books & media 23% 40% Place holds on print books & media 23% 43%
13. Clear Link Between Borrowing & Buying Use the library to discover new writers or try out new genres Purchased books by an author whose works were previously borrowed from the library Purchased specific book previously borrowed from the library All Users Power Patrons Source = Patron Profiles 2012
14. Library Patrons=Book Buyers Means. Base = all library users. Source = Patron Profiles 2011. Annual Book Consumption Books Read 26.7 Books Purchased 10.6 Books Borrowed from Library 17.3
16. Patrons Consume Across Formats Print Book Ebook Audiobook on CD Audiobook (digital download) Base = all library users. Source = Patron Profiles 2012.
17. Patrons Consume Across Formats Print Book Ebook Audiobook on CD Audiobook (digital download) Do you read across multiple formats? Base = all library users. Source = Patron Profiles 2012. Yes 34% No 66%
18. Ebook Users Read More Source = Patron Profiles 2011 All users Ebook Users # books read per year 27 30
19. Use the library to discover new writers or try out new genres Purchased books by an author whose works were previously borrowed from the library Purchased specific book previously borrowed from the library All Users Power Patrons Ebook Users Source = Patron Profiles 2012. Borrowing Influences Book Purchasing Behavior
20. The Untapped Ebook Market In 2011, public libraries carried an average of 4,000 ebooks. Source: LJ survey of Ebook Penetration & Use in U.S. Public Libraries, 2011
21. Patrons Want More Source: Patron Profiles 2011 All users Ebook users Would like more ebooks available at their public library 34% 75%
28. For more info visit: www.patronprofiles.com/TOC2012 PRESENTED BY Barbara A. Genco Manager, Special Projects Library Journal [email_address]
Notas do Editor
Introduce yourself All about e
Primer on Public Library market. Major players in the space Understood the need for trusted patron data Library leaders embraced data driven decisions making to drive planning Industry leaders needed and decisions in the library channel vis a vis their current future biz directions
LJ 1876 by Dewey and Bowker Why we partnered A trusted team with a powerful industry track records KG, CK SP, JP IS Publisher, RTM Series Editor, LJ/SLJ editorial & research group
Before we dive into to the data Degree of certainty Statistically significant samples (balanced by region, race, household income, etc.) Began trending in Fall 2011 Respondents must be library users Focus: Library patrons and Ebook Usage Mobile Devices, Mobile Content and Library Apps Library websites and virtual services Media consumption and the library user
Power Patrons are library users who visit the library at least weekly, drive much of the library’s circulation, are active consumers—and buyers—of all media, including ebooks, and vote at a higher rate than other patrons and should not be overlooked. About 21% of library patrons are Power Patrons.
How do patrons use the library?
The library is a discovery zone of authors and new book genres.
Library Patrons Impact Retail Environments: More than 50 percent of all library users go on to purchase books by an author they were introduced to in the library
For almost every 2 books borrowed, another book is purchased.
There is an overlap of format preferences. 34% read across multiple formats.
There is an overlap of format preferences. 34% read across multiple formats.
Ebook users read 30 books per year on average, 11% more than the 27 read by all users.
Adding ebook readers to the book purchase behavior chart we see that e-users are the most likely to purchase a book by an author whose works they previously borrowed from the library. Ebook users are those who have read an ebook in the last 6 months.