Rainie,
L. (2014). Teens and Libraries in Today’s Digital World. Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.
Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/09/millennials-and-libraries/
Research
shows that teens live in a different information ecosystem and a different
learning ecosystem. 95% of teens use the
internet, with 74% accessing the internet on mobile devices. 78% have cell phones, 47% have smartphones,
80% have desktops or laptops, and 23% have tablet computers. 81% of teens use social networking sites.
When
teachers with the College Board/National Writing Project were surveyed, 77%
felt that the internet and digital tools mostly have a positive effect on
students’ research work, while 87% felt that these technologies create an
easily-distracted generation of teens with short attention spans. I don’t know if their attention spans are shorter, but it is hard to hold their attention with their phones constantly
vibrating, quietly screaming for their attention.
76%
of those surveyed felt that the internet helps students access a wide array of
resources, while 76% felt that search engines condition students to expect
instant gratification without much searching.
Does the internet make students more self-sufficient, or does it simply overwhelm
them? The survey results do not answer
the question with any degree of finality.
16 and 17-year-olds use libraries and get help from librarians more often than adult age
groups, but they don’t feel as strongly as older age groups that the library
has impacted their lives and their community.
They would be more likely to ask for personal book recommendations, use
library “redboxes” if available, use a cell phone app to access the library, and use preloaded e-book readers.
The
public and the teachers want libraries to adapt to the generation of digital
teens who will behave differently in the world to come. They want content focusing on digital
literacy to be incorporated into school curriculum. They want free early literacy programs to
help young children prepare for school.
The
way children learn has changed and will continue to change, and we must run to
keep abreast of it.
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