Users to OCLC: Libraries Are "Books," Search Engines Trusted
-- Library Journal, 12/15/2005
The report is in, and it's not pretty. Information consumers told OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) that they view ibraries as places to borrow print books, but don't know about the rich proprietary electronic content they can get there as well—and they say that search engines are by far their first resort when looking for information. The report, Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources, based on surveys of information users across six countries, follows up on The 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern Recognition.
"We wanted to know more about people's information-seeking practices and preferences, how familiar people are with the wide variety of e-resources libraries provide for their users, and how libraries compare to other information resources, particularly web-based resources," said Cathy De Rosa, VP, OCLC Marketing & Library Services, and a principal contributor to the report."One of the most important goals of the project was also to gain a better understanding of 'The Library' brand." The findings are a reminder that, in the world of Google, libraries must become more proactive and nimble. Information consumers use the library less and read less since they began using the Internet. Moreover, 90 percent of respondents are satisfied with their most recent search for information using a search engine. Asked how, outside of search engines, they learn about electronic information sources, respondents cited a long list of sources before librarians and library web sites, from friends to advertising to IM/online chat.
