In the age of digital technology, where everything from books to movies can be found on the Internet, the library might seem obsolete. The need to go to a brick and mortar building to check out books, rent movies or find articles is minimal when the whole world is at one's fingertips via the World Wide Web.
But a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that Generation Y, today's 18- to 30-year-olds, is using the library more than any other age group.
The study showed that in the past year, 53 percent of all Americans have visited a public library for purposes including information finding and problem solving. Of Generation Y, 62 percent claimed they had visited a public library during the past year and 40 percent reported they would visit the library "when they encounter problems."
According to the study, Generation Y members were the most likely to use libraries, both for problem solving and in general.
Considering that Generation Y is also known as the generation most in-tune with the Web as a tool for finding and sharing information, it may come as a surprise that it are also the generation most likely to use the library's physical resources.
The question, however, remains: If all of this information is available on the Web, what is the role of the library in the digital world?
"The library in the academic environment has also always been an educational center and a learning space," said Laura Walters, assistant director of teaching and research at Tufts and head of reference and collections for the Tisch Library. "The library has never just been a warehouse of books and journals."
According to Walters, one of the main ways that Tufts students use the library is by incorporating the Internet.
"The Internet is great. We love the Internet. It really helps us reach our goals, but what we have to do is teach the students how to tell if what they find is good or bad," she said.
Teaching students to differentiate between "good" and "bad" sources on the Internet is a major goal of the Tisch Library. Last year, Tisch held 245 course-specific workshops to teach students the best way to find "academic level" material on the Web. And according to Walters, 70 percent of the Tisch Library budget now goes to buying online materials. This includes journal subscriptions and membership to services like Google Scholar.
"There's been a real shift in how we spend our money ... our budget was always 100 percent print, and now it's only 30," Walters said.
In addition to being an access point to online resources, the library is important to students for its atmosphere, according to Walters.
"The library as 'place' is another role that is really important and that hasn't changed," she said.
In the undergraduate focus sessions held last year, students repeatedly said that they enjoyed using the library as a place to study and as a place to meet with groups. The resources available at the library make it a convenient place for many students to work.
"Last semester I used the media center in the library all the time," freshman Linda Khalil said. "It's a really useful place for students who are in film classes."
In addition, the computers and study rooms in Tisch draw many students from their dorm rooms. "When I can't concentrate on my work, I go to the library because the atmosphere is more conducive to studying," Khalil said.
The Tisch Library is one of the most widely used venues on campus. "Our gate count continues to go up every year and we find that our circulation statistics continue to go up every year," Walters said.
Aside from Tisch, local libraries are also being widely used nationwide. According to the Pew study, people of all ages visit the public library in searching for information about such matters as tax filing, citizenship and local government policy.
According to Brian Boutilier, director of the Medford Public Library, the main role of the library is to satisfy the informational and recreational needs of the community. To that end, his library has 11 computers, a collection of DVDs and, of course, many books available to the public.
In addition, the library is an important center for those without Internet access in the community. "People come here to use the computers, to check their e-mail, check their investments and get other information online," Boutilier said.
The Medford Library, similar to the Tisch Library, also serves as a community center. During the summer, the Medford Library is host to book clubs for students and, during the cold winter months, parents can bring their children to "storytime" at the library. At least twice a week there are programs held for adults, such as lectures or workshops.
While Boutilier admits that the role of the library has changed in recent years, he does not think that it will soon be obsolete.
"E-books are not popular and even downloadable books still have not begun to replace print material," Boutilier said.
Despite the growing popularity of the Internet as a source of research and information, Walters said the role of the library in a community is not set to change anytime soon.
"I think [people] understand that the library is the place you go to solve a problem and that the people in the library can help you find the resource you need, whether it's in print or online," Walters said.
