Gary pointed to this article in MediaDailyNews:

Read All Aboot It: Canadians Still Like Print Newspapers by Erik Sass

From the Article:

“A new survey of Canadian adults in 53 media markets indicates continuing popularity for print newspapers north of the border, with a surprisingly low number of survey respondents only reading content online.

The survey covered populations in markets served by a total of 81 Canadian daily newspapers (as well as 60 community newspapers in 33 of these markets), representing 72% of the total Canadian population.

Overall, the new readership survey from NADbank found that 14.7 million Canadian adults, or 78% of the total population, read a print or online edition of their daily newspaper at least once a week. However, the print edition is still far more popular among adult readers in general, with 73% reading the print edition once a week versus just 22% for the online edition. Even more remarkable, a mere 4% of Canadian adults only read newspapers online.

More specifically, 47% of Canadian adults read a printed daily newspaper on an average weekday, 44% read the Saturday edition, and 23% read the Sunday edition.”

I think it is a little premature. I believe that with a number of major newspapers up for auction in Canada right now, there are ways to revitalize the industry. Howver, adults don’t make all the trend – you have to keep an eye on those teens and yound adult habits. I see so few reading anything more in print than the freebie Metro paper in the subway. They are well informed though since they get news from other sources.

Stephen

It has been a very difficult year for libraries and budgets. I think that this IMLS research shows that despite this, many state library agencies have been stepping up to the plate and managing their dollars well to serve their constituents. Sometimes the decisions that have to be made are horribly hard. Let’s all keep up the good fight everywhere.

It helps that federal money to libraries is up again after the new highs during the Bush administrations. The challenge now is state budgets for statewide efficiencies in library service and local commuities. Many states have great advocacy programs in place. Support them.

Access the complete research brief (10 page PDF with 15 charts and graphs) here.

“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2010

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Despite Flat Budgets, State Library Agencies Invest in Technology Services

Washington, DC—Despite the lack of real growth in their budgets in recent years, state library agencies are working strategically to assist library professionals and local libraries to meet patrons’ needs, according to State Library Agency Service Trends: 1999–2008, a new research brief by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Limited resources are being shifted as libraries services are being redefined. Over the past 10 years, for example, real dollar expenditures on statewide database licensing more than doubled, reaching a total of $65.8 million in 2008. These databases provide all library users access to a wide range of online resources, such as reference sources for homework, job search and training tools, and specialized magazines and newspapers. This finding indicates one way that state library agencies are making the most of limited resources.

Library services for hard-to-reach populations, such as services for people in nursing homes, individuals with physical or learning disabilities, assistive technologies and devices, and non-English speakers and migrant workers, declined from a high of $57 million in 2004 to $31.6 million in 2008, according to the study. While changing definitions and survey changes may have affected reporting in this area, this important finding may be a harbinger of difficult times ahead. An upcoming study, Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries, demonstrates that vulnerable populations rely on libraries for Internet access. Among young adults (14-24 years of age) living in households below the federal poverty line, 61 percent used public library computers and Internet for educational purposes. Among seniors (65 and over) living in poverty, 54 percent used public library computers for health or wellness needs. The study, scheduled for release on March 25, was conducted by the University of Washington with support from IMLS and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

IMLS allocates federal funds to state library agencies using a population-based forumula. State library agencies develop plans for the delivery of library services in their states and provide leadership and library development. While there is tremendous variation among state library agencies, this research brief aggregates data in order to characterize trends in services supported by state library agencies. The study examines services such as basic literacy programs, library services for hard-to-reach populations, and state database licenses for public libraries, public school media centers, and library cooperatives.

Funding for state library agencies, which includes a mix of federal, state, and other sources, remained flat from fiscal year (FY) 2004 to FY 2008. The current economic downturn will likely decrease agency budgets and could affect the quality and quantity of state library agency services in the future, according to the brief.

Twenty-first century patrons expect more technology resources in schools, public libraries, colleges, and universities. While current and future information technologies provide exciting new opportunities to extend library services to patrons across the U.S., they require significant investment and coordination, the study found.

IMLS will continue to document the trends highlighted in this report to better understand how changes at the state level affect the quality of library services to the public.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.”

I am especially happy that Gale, my employer, has stepped up to the plate and did no electronic product price increases in 2009 and has committed to hold prices again for 2010 too. We’re all in this boat together – libraries and vendors.

Stephen

I am finally getting my act together and jumping on the latest trend – geosocial apps.

I’ve been so busy trying to get up to speed at my new job that I’ve not been able to play with new apps as much as I like. So this weekend I set a goal to spend Saturday completely offline in St. Catharines visiting my mother-in-law for her birthday with my wife and to spend Sunday geeking out and studying these geo-social things.

You might see one of the most popular in your tweets when you see people declaring that they are now the mayor of the local coffee shop or telling you where they are. That’s usually Foursquare. Yeah, I know it’s irritating and TMI most of the time. But there is something to this stuff.

This is the beginning of a newish major trend – geo-targeting services (and ads). By choosing to tell your geo-social app where you are (or at least letting it sense where you are on the GPS grid with your smart phone) you’re opening yourself up to a multi-dimensional experience that will only grow. (Don’t worry, you can opt out too.) So here’s some of the opportunities:

1. finding friends in close proximity to where you are – serendipitously. Hey, these are apps that have the potential to increase your face to face interactions!
2. getting coupons (and ads about sales and specials) in context that match the shops you’re in or near – like Starbucks, Lord & Taylor, or whatever.
3. finding new restaurants, bookstores and coffee shops nearby.
4. being told your books you have on hold are ready when you’re in the vicinity of your library!
5. finding your local library and programming.
6. figuring out how to get through the huge ALA, SLA or SXSW/NXNW conferences.
7. finding events in your area.

Here are some of the latest apps you can play with that will help you learn more about geo-social location based searching and living . . . :

Foursquare
(Works for iPhones, Blackberries, Androids)

Gowalla
(Works for iPhones, Blackberries, Androids, Palm)

Loopt
(Works for iPhones, Blackberries, Androids – US phone numbers only)

I’ve got all Foursquare and Gowalla on my iPhone and 4Sq and, eventuallly, Loopt on my Blackberry. Friend me, I’m needy.

This, of course, does relate to the whole Geo IP trend in libraries which holds out a lot of hope to get rid of all of the barriers to accessing lbrary services (and not having to memorize the bar code of your library card….!)

These seem to be the big three and Foursquare seems in the lead in the first quarter of this relay. Expect a lot of copycats out very soon.

Also, get really worried if I join Farmville or something. I still haven’t recovered from all the sheep that were thrown at me when I joined Facebook years ago.

Stephen

OK, this is only maginally safe for work so I’m posting it on the weekend. It is, after all, heavy metal and discusses guys’ relationships with their moms. Dangerous ground indeed. It’s pretty funny to me.

This YouTube is less than a week old and already has over 222,000 views and made the top of the All Facebook blog too..

Ladies and Gentlemen:

My Mom’s on Facebook

Here’s another version (Rock and Roll instead of Heavy Metal):

My Mom’s on Facebook

Anyway, I continue to be happy that my own children and all my neices and nephews are friends with me on Facebook. I try to be good and not post things about them that might be embarrassing to them. I can’t say the same thing about their 20 year old pictures of me (Kyle I’m looking at you!).

Either way, I have more FB friends than them all put together. I guess I am just needier or more Millennial?

Stephen

I’ll be at PLA all next week in Portland Oregon. Drop by the Gale Cengage booth and I’d love to chat.

We’ll see if I am blogging more or less at that conference but I thought it might be fun to try another poll during the week of PLA.

The topic I’ve chosen is e-readers since I’ve been reading and testing and playing with them a lot lately. So, it’s just a very short survey and only a few questions. You can take the poll from the link on the side of my blog or by following the link in this post.

var PDF_surveyID = 'FD59240C74C2D9DD'; var PDF_openText = 'Here is the survey - let us know what you think'; Here is the survey - let us know what you think

Like last time, I’ll post and share the results with everyone. Thanks for your participation and I am always thankful for your comments too.

Stephen

I’ll have the privilege of speaking at this “Trendy Topics One-Day Online Conference on the Future of Libraries”

DATE: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 3:00 p.m. GMT:

Over the course of the day a group of presenters (including keynote speaker Stephen Abram) will explore and discuss with participants how libraries can understand, embrace, and lead future developments in libraries and librarianship.

Please Note: Participants are required to register for this one-day conference and pay a small registration fee. This is the fifth of nine monthly one-day Trendy Topics conferences that will be held throughout 2010. For more OPAL events follow this link.

Conference Website (includes registration info): Trendy Topics Conference Website

Co-Organizers: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services

I hope you can be there. These events are priced to fit any budget. The Alliance Library System is being very creative in creating innovative programming for themselves and sharing it with the entire community. Thanks.

Stephen

I lost a few minutes as I delved into this website. I know I learned nothing of use for my life and career but I got all warm amd fuzzy inside just seeing Fred and Wilma’s house blueprints.

Mark Bennett at the Mark Moore Gallery

You’ll also find Uncle Bill’s (Buffy and Jody) apartment, Darrin and Samantha Stevens’ house, Jeannie’s bottle, George & Louise Jefferson’s Co-op, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo’s apartment, Mary Richard’s bachelorette, The town plan for Mayberry, a US map for the Fugitive, Bruce Wayne’s and Rick Grayson’s place, and Frasier Crane’s condo.

Now we should request the Brady Bunch place and the Simpson’s house and neighbourhood.

How cool would that be!?

Stephen

Here’s a fun summary of the state of Google in 2010. It’s probably a little over the top, but, then, it might not be. Great brands don’t get a pass on critical thinking (like that applied to Nike and child labour).

THE BEAST FILE: GOOGLE (‘HUNGRY BEAST’, ABC TV) from Hungry Beast on Vimeo.

Competition and choice in information and information access is essential.

Stephen