Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources

OCLC's new report, Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources, includes findings from an international study of library use, awareness and use of library electronic resources, search engines. vs. librarians, free and fee information, and the "Library" brand (uhh, huh?).  The report itself is available as a 4.4MB PDF (290 pages of data and narrative summaries).  I concur with Karen that an HTML version would have been most handy.  I can't make myself print out 290 pages, and reading it on a screen in PDF is eye-hurting. 

From the introduction to the report:

The findings presented in this report do not surprise, they confirm. During the hundreds of Scan discussions and meetings held over the past 24 months, several recurring themes surfaced. “Users are not aware of the electronic resources libraries make freely available.” Our survey findings bear this out. “Users are as comfortable using Web information sources as library sources.” Our study shows this perception also to be true, across countries, across U.S. age groups, across library card holders and non-card holders. “The library brand is dated.” Again, our survey findings do not surprise, they confirm.

and

Trends toward increased information self-service and seamlessness are clearly evident in the survey results. Libraries’ mindshare in this new self-service e-resource environment is also clear: behind newer entrants. Libraries’ continued importance as a trusted information provider is evident and, overall, users have positive, if outdated, views of the “Library.” Our collective challenge is, therefore, to take this information—both the positive and the challenging—and evaluate where to invest more, invest less, invent new and invert old, communicate more and market better.