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Public Library Use in Oregon

Results from the 2006 Oregon Population Survey

Oregon State Library

March 2007

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Introduction Since 1994 the Oregon State Library has

participated in the Oregon Population Survey, a biennial survey that measures a variety of socio-economic characteristics of Oregonians.

The State Library has used the survey to collect data about use of public libraries.

This presentation includes data about public library use from the four most recent surveys: 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.

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About the Survey The Oregon Population Survey is a random telephone

survey of Oregon households. The base sample is supplemented with an additional

sample to collect sufficient data from various racial and ethnic groups.

A randomly selected adult household member provides information for each member of the household regardless of age.

The 2006 survey surveyed over 4,000 households and obtained data for over 10,000 individuals.

The margin of error for most of the data about library use is approximately plus or minus 2%.

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Survey Questions

These questions were asked about all members of the sample household:

Have you, personally, used a public library or library program in the last 30 days? This includes connecting to the library on the Internet.

[If the respondent answered “no” to the first question they were asked this follow-up question…]

Have you, personally, used a public library or library program in the last 12 months?

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Public Library Use in the Past Year

Percent of Oregonians Who Used a Public Library in the Past Year

57.5% 62.6% 63.8% 59.1%

0.0%

50.0%

100.0%

2000 2002 2004 2006

Source: Oregon Population Survey

The 2006 survey shows a significant decline in public library use in the past year.The margin of error is plus or minus 1%.

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Public Library Use in the Past Month

The decline in use in the past month in the 2006 survey is small but significant. The margin of error for this result is plus or minus 1%

Percent of Oregonians Who Used a Public Library in the Past Month

35.7% 40.5% 41.8% 40.2%

0.0%

50.0%

100.0%

2000 2002 2004 2006

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use in the Past Year by Gender

A significant decline in use by men may account for much of the overall decline in use in the 2006 survey.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Gender

52% 58% 61% 54%59% 67% 67% 64%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

Male Female

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use in the Past Year by Poverty Level

People living in households below the poverty line use public libraries less than those in households above the poverty line.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Poverty Level

60% 64% 66% 62%54% 60% 59%

53%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

Above Below

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Income Level

In the 2006 survey, use of the library by people in the lowest income households approximated that by all Oregonians.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Low Income Households

53%

58% 58% 60%

54% 55%51%

49%51%

58% 59%

55%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

$9,999 or less $10,000 to $14,999 $15,000 to $24,000

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Income Level

Use of the public library increases with income level.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Middle Income Households

54%57% 55% 57%

61%

68%65%

60%

65%67%

73%

63%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

$25,000 to $34,999 $35,000 to $54,999 $55,000 to $74,999

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Income Level

People in the highest income households made the greatest use of the public library in 2006.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Higher Income Households

67%70%

72%

65%64%

71% 69%

65%

72%

61%

75%71%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

$75,000 to $99,999 $100,000 to $124,999 $125,000+

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Age

School age children show the highest use of the public library among all age groups. Use by preschoolers still has great potential for growth.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Youth

36%40%

46%

38%

79%85% 88% 89%87%

92% 94%

86%

77% 80%85%

71%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

0 to 4 years 5 to 9 years 10 to 14 years 15 to 19 years

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Age

Use among younger adults is greater than use by older adults.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Younger Adults

56%63% 62%

57%58%65% 65% 64%

60%64%

60%54%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

20 to 29 years 30 to 39 years 40 to 49 years

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Age

Public library use drops off significantly among older Oregonians.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Older Adults

49%

56%60%

44%49% 46%

36% 36%39%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004

50 to 64 years 65 to 74 years 75+

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Race and Ethnicity

With the exception of Hispanics, library use does not vary a great deal by race and ethnicity.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Race/ Ethnicity

61.4%

65.1% 66.5%64.1%

66.3% 65.1% 66.2%

60.7%

63.7%

66.7% 66.2% 66.2%

58.7%

63.1% 64.7%

58.9%

52.4%

58.1% 58.2%56.0%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

African American American Indian Asian American White Hispanic

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Education Level

Use of the public library increases significantly with education level.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Education Level

77% 77% 77%79%

71% 73% 75%70%

59%64% 64%

59%

42%45%

50%43%

28%33% 32% 32%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

Graduate/ professional Bachelors Some college High school/ GED Less than high school

S ource: Oregon Population S urvey

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Use by Region

Metro area libraries show the greatest use in recent surveys. All of the top three regions have libraries providing county-wide library service.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Region (Top Three)

59%68% 71%

64%61% 61%67%

62%56% 53% 56% 60%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington Crook, Deschutes, J efferson Klamath, Lake

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Region

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Region (Middle Three)

54% 57% 61% 57%55% 59% 56% 57%54% 57% 54% 56%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, JosephineGilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, WheelerBaker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Use by Region

The regions showing the lowest use have the bulk of the “unserved” population in the state.

Use of the Public Library in the Past Year by Region (Bottom Three)

58% 59% 58% 55%56% 61% 59% 54%54% 57%51% 53%

0%

50%

100%

2000 2002 2004 2006

Marion, Polk, Yamhill Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook

Source: Oregon Population Survey

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Comparison to National Data In 2002 the National Center for Education Statistics worked with

the Census Bureau to conduct a household survey of public library use.

Respondents were asked whether anyone in the household had used a public library or a bookmobile in the past month or past year.

The national survey reports on public library use by households and not individuals, so it is not possible to make a direct comparison to the Oregon Population Survey results.

However, the national survey does include data for Oregon that is presented in the following slides.

The slides show the states recording the highest use by household and the lowest use, plus the data for Oregon and the U.S. as a whole.

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Use in the Past Year

There is nearly a ten point difference between this result for Oregon households (52.3%) and that in the 2002 Oregon Population Survey for individuals (62.6%). The difference might be explained by the difference in the wording of the question or the smaller sample size in the national survey.

Use of a Public Library by Household in the Past Year: 2002

47.6%

36.6%

52.3%

59.5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

United States

Alabama (lowest)

Oregon

Iowa (higest)

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

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Use in the Past Month

Again we see a significant difference between this result for households and the result for individuals in the 2002 Oregon Population Survey (40.5%).

Use of a Public Library by Household in the Past Month: 2002

30.6%

21.9%

35.4%

41.5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

United States

Arkansas (lowest)

Oregon

Utah (highest)

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

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Acknowledgement

The State Library would like to thank Toshihiko Murata of Northwest Survey and Data Services for his analysis of the Oregon Population Survey results.