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3 <br /> Library Services Task Force <br /> Executive Summary <br /> To the Commissioners: <br /> Thank you for your financial support and guidance for the series of studies on libraries <br /> and services in Orange County beginning with the Task Force of 2002, the Task Force of <br /> 2004, the Carrboro Study Group, and the most recent Task Force of 2007. These local <br /> studies are combined with four recent national studies described below to form the <br /> knowledge base for comprehensive library service for the county. <br /> • A national survey of public attitudes toward libraries reported that the American <br /> people see libraries as political solutions to many pressing community problems, <br /> such as universal access to computers and a safe place for teens. Libraries have <br /> high credibility; they are given the highest grade of any community institution. <br /> They perform an essential service in a trustworthy.manner; local libraries use <br /> money well. The general public values libraries as a safe central community <br /> gathering location. The public believes libraries should provide traditional <br /> services, such as books for children, reference materials, knowledgeable and <br /> friendly librarians as well as 21St century services like computers and online <br /> services.1 <br /> • A national survey funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services <br /> concluded that libraries evoke consistent, extraordinary public trust among <br /> diverse adult users, that the public benefits from the presence of libraries on the <br /> Internet, that available information inspires the search for more information, and <br /> that Internet use is positively related to in-person visits to libraries.2 <br /> • A 2007 survey by the Pew Internet& American Life Project reports that libraries <br /> drew visits from more than half the American population last year for a variety of <br /> purposes. Young adults were found to be the heaviest users of libraries for <br /> problem-solving purposes and other reasons.3 <br /> • Two additional recent reports calculated taxpayer return on investment in Florida <br /> and Pennsylvania public libraries respectively. These studies used public library <br /> annual reports to the State Library, a statewide household telephone survey of <br /> adults, in-library surveys of adults, surveys of organizations and an input-output <br /> Long Overdue;A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21'Century(2006).. Prepared by <br /> Public Agenda with support from the Americans for Libraries Council and the Bill and Melinda Gates <br /> Foundation. Accessed 4/27/2008 from http://www.publicagenda.org/research/pdfs/long_overdue.pdf <br /> 2 Griffiths,Jose-Marie and Donald King(2008). InterConnections: The IMLS National Study on the Use <br /> of Libraries, Museums and the Internet. Funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. <br /> Accessed 4/27/2008 from http://interconnectionsreport.org/reports/ConclusionsFullRptB.pdf. <br /> 3 Estabrook,Leigh,Evans Witt and Leigh Rainey(2007). Information Searches That Solve Problems;How <br /> People Use the Internet,Libraries, and Government Agencies when They need Help. (2007). Funded by <br /> the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Accessed 4/27/2008 from <br /> http://interconnectionsreport.org/reports/ConclusionsFullRptB.pdf. <br /> 1 <br />