Author name: Melissa Higgins

Almost three-quarters of U.S. adults self-identify as lifelong learners, according to Pew

May 2016

One of the strongest values of libraries of all types is that of lifelong learning. Pew Research Center’s new study of personal and professional attitudes about learning reveals some significant trends about how American adults pursue their interests. Nearly three-fourths (73%) of U.S. adults consider themselves lifelong learners in some sense, with 74% identifying as […]

Study finds 7 school library characteristics linked to student achievement

April 2016

School Library Journal recently reported on the newest statewide study on the impact of school libraries for student success, commissioned by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL). While this now marks more than a dozen states that have conducted studies showing a link between school library programs and student achievement, this study was […]

74% of U.S. public libraries saw increase in operating budget in 2015, LJ survey finds

March 2016

According to Library Journal’s latest budget survey, U.S. public libraries continue to recover from the recession, but the pace of that that recovery may be slowing somewhat. Of the 371 libraries that responded to the survey, nearly three-quarters (74%) reported an increase in operating budgets between 2014 and 2015, which is equivalent to the 73% […]

Job postings on LibraryJobline have increased 188% since 2009

March 2016

LibraryJobline, LRS’s website for library job postings and resources, saw its best year yet in 2015 in terms of jobs that were posted. In the latest Fast Facts Report, 656 total job postings were added to LibraryJobline last year, which is almost three times the number of job postings in LibaryJobline’s slowest year, 2009. More […]

In EBSCO survey, nearly two-thirds of college students use library resources in their research

February 2016

EBSCO has released an infographic that illustrates their findings from a 2015 survey of 208 students about how college students conduct research. The survey focused on general research trends, how students start research, as well as the research experience. The results indicate that while students are largely receiving library instruction and using library resources, they […]

Despite intentions, only 25% of community college students transfer to a bachelor’s program within 5 years, according to the Community College Research Center

February 2016

The Community College Research Center conducts research on a wide variety of issues affecting two-year colleges nationwide. As a route to higher education for well over a third (40%) of undergraduates in the U.S., community colleges are for many an important gateway to improved opportunities and earning potential. Their current research about student completion and […]

Study published in C&RL indicates 3 information literacy skills are the most important to employers: innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration

January 2016

We know now that strong information literacy skills are very important in both the academic and work environments. In a new study published in College & Research Libraries, Victoria Raish and Emily Rimlaud seek, through a nation-wide survey of employers, to find out employers’ perceptions of critical information skills and their potential acceptance of a […]

98% of CTBL survey respondents rate their satisfaction with CTBL services as “excellent” or “good”

December 2015

The results are in for the 2014 Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) Patron Satisfaction Survey, which seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the library and overall satisfaction with its services. Highlights from the survey are detailed in our new Fast Facts report and previously published Closer Look report. CTBL provides free library services, including recorded books, […]

LJ Financial Literacy Survey suggests over half of library cardholders would attend financial literacy training (if they knew about it)

December 2015

As the variety of program topics increases in public libraries, financial literacy training has emerged as a common topic in many libraries, especially since the recession. Financial literacy training seeks to educate and provide strategies about how to manage one’s money and prepare for financial planning. Yet Library Journal’s 2015 Financial Literacy Survey suggests that […]