The Danish Think Tank has produced the most profound study on digital library behavior, barriers and drivers for digital library use. The aim of the study is to give deep insight into digital behavior in Denmark and a tool to define a new digital direction for public libraries.
Digital and physical approximation
• Digital library use today is almost as important as physical use: 46% versus 56%
• Over the past three years, the percentage of frequent digital users has doubled: 14% in 2014 and 29% in 2017
• Digital library use today is almost as important as physical use: 46% versus 56%
• Over the past three years, the percentage of frequent digital users has doubled: 14% in 2014 and 29% in 2017
Significant differences in digital library use
• Significant differences in frequent digital use: Analogue
male (6%) versus male cultural consumer (42%)
• A digital female majority: Female digital users (53%) versus male digital users (37%)
• Significant differences in frequent digital use: Analogue
male (6%) versus male cultural consumer (42%)
• A digital female majority: Female digital users (53%) versus male digital users (37%)
Digital behavior imitates our physical library behavior
Digital users borrow books, re-borrow books and get inspiration from books.
Digital users borrow books, re-borrow books and get inspiration from books.
The most significant factor for using the digital library is visiting the physical library
If we want to generate digital users, the easiest way is to make them physical users first. What matters on a scale from –1 to +1: Physical use (+0.6), gender (+0.03), education (+0.03), age (–0.06)
If we want to generate digital users, the easiest way is to make them physical users first. What matters on a scale from –1 to +1: Physical use (+0.6), gender (+0.03), education (+0.03), age (–0.06)
Neutralizing socio-economic inequality
The digital library neutralizes the positive correlation between education and library use and indicates important perspectives for people not using the library today
The digital library neutralizes the positive correlation between education and library use and indicates important perspectives for people not using the library today
One library in the future
Physical and digital libraries are closely linked and must therefore be developed as one library. Even though Danes’ library behavior is increasingly digital, 90% prioritize the existence of a physical library
Physical and digital libraries are closely linked and must therefore be developed as one library. Even though Danes’ library behavior is increasingly digital, 90% prioritize the existence of a physical library
Denmark is ranked the most digital country in Europe and all the digital development and possibilities have fundamentally changed people’s digital behavior. The digital library today consists of a wide range of services from ebooks and movies, to databases and magazines, e.g. 50% of all new books are available as ebooks. Despite this favourable situation, digital library strategies at a local level often appear as an appendix to the physical library strategy or do not exist at all. The findings of the Digital Library Strategies study provide deep insight into digital behaviour of both users and non-users.
Mixed Methods
The study Digital Library Strategies is a mix of two data sets:
A qualitative study based on 10 anthropological interviews, which offers new insight into user and non-user behavior, barriers and preferences; and which functioned as a pilot study prior to the quantitative study.
A quantitative study based on 6500 respondents from the age of 15 and up.
The study Digital Library Strategies is a mix of two data sets:
A qualitative study based on 10 anthropological interviews, which offers new insight into user and non-user behavior, barriers and preferences; and which functioned as a pilot study prior to the quantitative study.
A quantitative study based on 6500 respondents from the age of 15 and up.
The quantitative study consists of two parts:
1) A segmentation in 8 digital sections of the population and
2) Transverse findings giving general insight into digital behavioral correlations.
1) A segmentation in 8 digital sections of the population and
2) Transverse findings giving general insight into digital behavioral correlations.
The Danish Think Tank – Libraries of the Future
The ambition is to produce knowledge, analysis and cross-disciplinary activities.
To generate professional, public and political debate and awareness of the role of libraries now and in the future.
To generate professional, public and political debate and awareness of the role of libraries now and in the future.
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