What do Americans expect from their public libraries? The short answer is “a lot.”
That is one of the findings of the Pew Research Center’s 2016 survey on libraries.
Most Americans view public libraries as important parts of their communities, with a majority reporting that libraries have the resources they need and play at least some role in helping them decide what information they can trust. When asked to think about the things that libraries could do in the future, notable numbers of Americans respond in a way that can be boiled down to one phrase: “Yes, please.”
The good news here, I think, is that Americans continue to view libraries as important. And that there are lots of things we can do that will keep them feeling that way. The “bad” news is that, of course, we can’t do everything. You’ll want to read the article referenced above, as well as the full report, for more ideas on how your library can give your community what it wants and needs.
A Life in Libraries 