Are Public Libraries Still A Destination?

In a Google era -- and for a generation of suburban kids who want to own books and AV -- the local library may be losing its appeal.

1 minute read

March 20, 2007, 12:00 PM PDT

By Michael Dudley

"For parents and grandparents, it's hard to accept that young people today often feel little connection to the local library. We recall the libraries of our childhoods as magical places; getting our first library card was a rite of passage. It saddens us that younger generations seem more eager to buy books than borrow them, or that they consider libraries just another tool for acquiring information.

Sure, there are still library-loving children, but books aren't necessarily the draw. Many gravitate to the rows of computer terminals. And libraries are offering more children's materials and programs than ever, with attendance growing at events such as story hours, ice-cream socials and movie nights. Suburban kids, especially, often use libraries more for DVDs, story hours and computers, because their parents buy them books, according to a 2005 study by the Association for Library Service to Children."

FULL STORY: Of the Places You'll Go,

Thursday, March 15, 2007 in The Wall Street Journal

Social / Demographics North America

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