The findings are part of Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources, a report issued by OCLC. The new report, based on surveys of information users across six countries administered by Harris Interactive on behalf of OCLC, is a follow-up to The 2003 OCLC Environmental Scan: Pattern Recognition, the report that describes issues and trends that are impacting and will impact OCLC and libraries. Among the findings of the report, include: Respondents use search engines to begin an information search (84%). One percent begin an information search on a library Web site; Information consumers use the library but they use the library less and read less since they began using the Internet; Borrowing print books is the library service used most; "Books" is the library brand; Quality and quantity of information are top determinants of a satisfactory electronic information search, not speed of results. Respondents do not trust purchased information more than free information; Ninety percent of respondents are satisfied with their most recent search for information using a search engine; and information consumers like to self-serve. They use personal knowledge and common sense to judge if electronic information is trustworthy, and they cross-reference other sites to validate their findings. Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources is available for download free of charge at the Web site. (www.oclc.org) |
