Guest post by Sarah Steers
Lifelong learners, personal and professional learners, major technology adopters: regular library users can be identified in a myriad of ways, according to the April 2016 Pew Research Center report Lifelong Learning and Technology.
The Pew Research Center offered a good synopsis of the report on March 22, 2016. Pew found that:
- 73% of adults consider themselves lifelong learners
- 74% of adults are “personal learners” – people who have “participated in at least one” activity in the past year about something that interests them or something that they care about (like reading, taking a course, or attending an event).
- 63% of working adults (which equates to 36% of all adult Americans) are professional learners – people who have taken a course or gotten some sort of training to advance their career or improve their job skills.
The report notes that many people weren’t aware if their local library offered “key learning and educational resources”:
- 22% didn’t know if their library offered e-books for download;
- 38% didn’t know if their library offered career resources;
- 47% didn’t know if their library offered GED or high school equivalency courses;
- 47% didn’t know if their library offered help for starting a new business;
- and 49% didn’t know if their library offered online certification programs.
Pew’s “Libraries and Learning” report noted a few other community concerns. For example, it’s more likely for women, parents of minors, people under age 50, and people with more education to use libraries and digital library resources. Satisfied library users and those happy with available learning opportunities tend to be female, black or Hispanic, aged 30 or over, and/or from lower-income households.
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Offerings
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh offers downloadable e-book services for cardholders, career and resume help for those in the workforce and help for recent high school grads wondering about next-steps (students can also find practice exams and scholarship info), and multiple resources for new entrepreneurs. Check out CLP’s website for more info on the great services and events hosted by the Library.
Drop WPLLA a line if you have any comments or concerns about this report or any of its takeaways. Or, let us know how you feel about your local library and some of the creative or helpful resources it offers! We’d love to hear from you!
Western Pennsylvania Law Library Association 