Power ePATRON Identified as Key Influencer of Library Website Design

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

As the Internet has rocked our culture, public libraries have responded with strategies to help society trump the digital divide and with services to foster effective use of the web and the many digital innovations it has sparked. Now, Library Journal, in partnership with Bowker, has released its third issue of the quarterly publication, Patron Profiles, to explore how people use the Internet in libraries and what they want from this key tool as they look for new books and information. Based on trending research among a national sample of more than 2,000 participants, Patron Profiles: Library Websites and Virtual Services identifies the characteristics of the Power ePatron, those who report visiting their librarys website at least once a week, to help inform what the future of library websites should look like.

“Inside libraries, these national trending surveys allow us to get real insight into how patrons use their libraries, but they also provide guidance on unmet expectations that can help shape effective library services,” said Patron Profiles Series Editor Rebecca T. Miller. “Beyond libraries, they illuminate the integral role of libraries in the culture of reading, book buying, and the rapid adoption of new technologies.”

Power ePatrons are more likely female, tend to be younger (in the 21-40 age group), slightly more affluent and have graduated from college. Power ePatrons make substantially greater use of their libraries both online and in person than other patrons surveyed.