According to a May 6, 2021 article in Publishers Weekly, “Report Urges Library Leaders to Address Decline in Public Library Usage Stats,†library usage in the U.S. declined 31% between 2010 and 2018. But why?
First, the internet has created a false assumption that libraries are not needed. A 2015 article “Do We Need Libraries?†by Steve Denning of Forbes begins, “Libraries everywhere are under threat. After all, who needs a library today, when it is possible, without even getting out of bed, to find and read almost any book or article that has ever been published?â€
Second, the public is uninformed of the many valuable services provided by libraries. A 2016 Pew survey revealed that only 38% of respondents knew that libraries lent e-books. This figure, as well as additional survey results, showed that much of the public is unaware of most library services.
For libraries to survive in the 21st century, librarians must make deliberate efforts to change the perception of libraries and raise awareness of the valuable services libraries provide.
Unfortunately, many libraries are going about business as usual. There has been little shift in funds toward advocacy and program promotion. Many libraries, who face funding cuts, even pulled money away from these important functions. Without change the future of libraries is bleak.
Gary Stebbins, V.P. of marketing at JanWay Company, encourages every library to engage in advocacy and program promotion. “As part of the library community JanWay cares about the future of libraries. As the only company in the US that specializes in providing promotional items for libraries, JanWay is uniquely positioned to partner with libraries in their advocacy and program promotion efforts†Stebbins said. Visit JanWay.com for thousand of items to promote your library and its programs.
