The American Library Association has responded to a survey released by the Pew Research Center, earlier this week, supporting the study’s findings that public libraries are vital resources within their communities.
“Public libraries are transforming beyond their traditional roles and providing more opportunities for community engagement and new services that connect closely with patrons’ needs,” stated American Library Association (ALA) President Sari Feldman. “Today’s study shows that public libraries are far from being just ‘nice to have,’ but serve as a lifeline for their users, as the survey shows more than 65 percent of those surveyed felt that closing their local public library would have a major impact on their community.”
While Pew’s Research found that public libraries are core to communities, it also revealed that library usage is decreasing. To turn this around, the ALA is launching a national public awareness campaign entitled ‘Libraries Transform.’