2014 Survey Results

In 2011, Cen Campbell and the members of LittleeLit.com documented the use of various types of new media (predominantly tablet-based) with young children in libraries. They led numerous in-person and virtual discussions about developmentally appropriate practices for librarians considering the use of new media with young children, and the role of the children's librarian in the context of new media. But information was anecdotal. And while similar surveys have been conducted in formal education settings, no survey that we know of had been conducted for new media use in public libraries with children aged 0-5 and their families. We determined that an initial snapshot of the landscape of technology use around the country in library programming for young children could provide powerful material for advocacy and development.

As a result, Cen Campbell, Joanna Ison, Amy Koester and J. Elizabeth Mills designed the first-ever nationwide survey of public libraries to investigate emergent technology use in programming for children aged 0-5 and their families. The survey was designed in collaboration with the Association for Library Service to Children, LittleeLit.com, and the iSchool at the University of Washington. We aimed to cast as wide a net as possible while still using a convenience sample of available listservs and Google groups in order to recruit survey participants.

We wanted to know: what is the landscape in public libraries around the country with respect to new media use in programming for young children ages 0-5?

    1. to what extent technology is being used in libraries;
    2. if it is being used in programming for young children;
    3. what devices are being used;
    4. what kind of funding and selection strategies librarians are using;
    5. and their plans for the future.

A few definitions:

new media: digital, and often tablet-based technology

young children: persons falling within the age range of 0-5 years old

We refined the questions through peer review and pilot testing with Washington and California libraries and administered the final national survey in early August 2014. The survey was available for participation for 18 days. When the survey closed on August 18, we had more than 400 responses from around the country. On the infographic you can see a map graphic that gives the geographic distribution of participating libraries.

In analyzing the data, we looked first at the legal service area populations of responding libraries, allowing us to see new media use breakdown by population size:

On the infographic, there is an interesting spike in the under 5k and then again in the 25-50k libraries.

Secondly, we looked at how the new media was being used in programming.

70% of respondents reported using some kind of new media in their programming for young children.

40 percent are using devices in storytime,

and 31 percent are using devices in programs that are not storytimes.

26 percent of total respondents reported that devices are available for checkout within their libraries;

20 perecent reported devices could be checked out of the library itself;

41 percent said they offer tethered/mounted devices within the library for patron use.

Tablets were the most popular reported devices, with 45% of respondents incorporating tablet use into their libraires, whether in programs, for patron use, or a combination of the two.

Of that 45 percent, the most popular tablet was the iPad--favored by 85 percent of those who reported tablet use.

Devices reported in the survey were funded largely by libraries' operational budgets, with 51 percent of respondents citing this budget as a resource. Grants and donations were the next most popular funding sources. 22 percent of respondents reported that staff used personal devices either on their own or in conjunction with funding. Respondents reported looking for collection and selection information once they made the decision to acquire new media. 58 percent said they consulted some type of outside source when acquiring their new media.

Regarding general plans for next steps,

59 percent of the total respondents indicated they will be increasing availability and use for their new media in the future;

Less than 1 percent indicated they would decrease or eliminate availability and use;

18 percent indicated they did not know how their library planned to move forward;

and 25 percent either selected "other" or left this blank.

Not all responses were positive. 14 percent indicated that no devices were currently present in their libraries, either because of a lack of community need or because of budgetary constraints. One such respondent reported, "We would like to have these devices available but are short of funds."

From the survey results, it is reasonable to conclude that this topic, new media in library services for young children, will continue to be an important topic for the profession. There is strong evidence that libraries are in a position to be digital hubs, but there is less evidence of mentorship, despite data that show widespread use of tablets and media players in storytimes with young children. Our survey sets the stage for a larger discussion around the concept of media mentorship.

Here is the citation for our article on this survey:

  • Mills, J. E., Romeijn-Stout, E., Campbell, C., Koester, A. (2015). Results from the young children, new media, & libraries survey: What did we learn? Children & Libraries, 13(2), 26-35.