State of America's Libraries 2017
ALA News:
April 2017
 |
| 2017 State of America’s Libraries Report |
In
the 21st century, libraries of all types are responding to the changing social,
economic, and political impacts of living in a digital society. Academic,
school, and public libraries provide services that empower people for change.
Library workers’ expertise, combined with dynamic collections and digital
resources, help individuals develop new skills, communicate with others through
new technologies, and help make their communities better places to live. These
and other library trends of the past year, including the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of
2016, are detailed in the American Library Association’s 2017
State of America’s Libraries report, released during National Library Week,
April 9– 15, 2017.
In
the 21st century, libraries of all types are responding to the changing social,
economic, and political impacts of living in a digital society. Academic,
school, and public libraries provide services that empower people for change.
Library workers’ expertise, combined with dynamic collections and digital
resources, help individuals develop new skills, communicate with others through
new technologies, and help make their communities better places (PDF) to live.
Since
2015, the American Library Association (ALA) Libraries Transform campaign has promoted public awareness
of the importance of libraries and library workers. More than 6,100 libraries
and library advocates have joined the campaign to date, and ALA continues to
promote awareness of the value, impact, and services provided by libraries and
the expertise provided by library workers.
A
recent study (PDF) shows that the 3,793 academic libraries in the United States contribute to
student learning and success in four ways:
> Students
benefit from library instruction in their initial coursework.
> Library
use increases student success.
> Collaborative
academic programs and services involving the library enhance student learning.
> Information
literacy instruction strengthens general education outcomes.
Academic
librarians are embracing new responsibilities in such areas as scholarly
communication, digital archives, data curation, digital humanities,
visualization, and born-digital objects. Other emerging areas include
bibliometrics and altmetrics, e-learning, custom information solutions, and
research data management.
School libraries serve 98,460 of our nation’s public and
private schools. More
than 90% of traditional public schools report having a library, while 49%
of private charter schools report having one. These libraries have always
supported the curriculum, encouraged student creativity, and promoted lifelong
learning. Today’s challenges—such as information literacy, intolerance, and
funding cuts—highlight the need for well-funded school libraries and
credentialed school librarians.
School
librarians use standards-based learning experiences that promote critical
evaluation of print and digital resources and the creation of valid student
work. There is some evidence that school library budgets may be increasing, after five years
of reductions, and there is hope that the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) will be used in support
of school libraries. The law includes language that allows schools to budget
funds for school libraries and acknowledges school librarians as specialized
instructional support personnel.
Our
9,082 public libraries play a vital role in such community
services as early childhood literacy, computer training, and workforce
development. In addition, they provide a safe place for everyone, reflecting
and serving the diversity of their communities in their collections, programs,
and services. The thousands of public libraries in towns and neighborhoods
across the United States invite community conversations and actions that
further understanding and address local needs.
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