Do people still visit the public library?

Gallup Poll reports more Americans went to the Library in 2019 than to the movies

Do people still visit the public library? “Yes, absolutely!” exclaims Lonesome Pine Regional Library Director, Julie Short. In 2019, Americans visited the library more than they went to movies, concerts, amusement parks, and sporting events. In fact, according to a recent Gallup poll, visiting the library remains the most common cultural activity among Americans.

“Despite the proliferation of digital-based activities over the past two decades – including digital books, podcasts, streaming entertainment services, and advanced gaming – libraries have endured as a place Americans visit nearly monthly on average,” according to the Gallup report. The survey indicates that adults went to the public library 10.5 times in the past year while only 5.3 saw a movie at the theater, and only 4.7 attended a live sporting event.

At Lonesome Pine, our libraries are community gathering places,” says Short. “People visit the library to attend events or to use the computers, yet oftentimes, they are coming to simply interact with each other. Connecting people to people is as important as connecting people to information, and the library excels at both.”

Librarians at Lonesome Pine remain committed to helping people find what they need. Frequently patrons need to complete job applications, file insurance claims, take tests, design church bulletins, or just print documents. The library subscribes to extensive online database services that typically aren’t accessible for home use. With just a library card, patrons can access news archives, academic research, genealogy, digital images, and more. They can also borrow books, movies, music, and art. All at the crazy low cost of free!

Indeed, library spaces reflect the ever-expanding role they play in community life. And, the sentiment our community members share over and over again at Lonesome Pine is, “We love our libraries!” So, as Valentine’s Day approaches, we invite you to stop by your local library and find your “library love” story or visit us at www.lprlibrary.org.