Survey shows: At 7.3 million visits a year, Seattle loves its public libraries

A survey of Seattle Public Library patrons has found that more than 60 percent of those polled use the library at least twice a month.

The survey of 33,000 patrons — about 7 percent of all those who hold library cards — in May was part of the library's effort to develop a plan to guide growth. It was financed by a grant from the Seattle Public Library Foundation and was part of a $100,000 contract with Seattle-based consultants Berk & Associates.

The results were released Friday morning.

Not surprisingly, nearly 94 percent of those surveyed said providing materials was one of the two most important services the library provides. Number two was providing access to technology, such as computers.

"The survey confirms how well-used and important our libraries are to the community," City Librarian Susan Hildreth said in a release. "Library use has increased 57 percent in the last decade. No wonder Seattle continually gets ranked as the most literate city in the nation."

Other survey findings:

• 62 percent reported visiting a library at least twice a month, and 38 percent said they visited a library at least once a week.

• Lower-income, nonwhite and non-English speakers were more likely than others to use the library more than five times a month.

• 85 percent said they use the library to pick up items placed on hold or to check out material; 42 percent said they go to libraries to read books and other material.

• 22 percent said they go to a library to use a computer; 14 percent go to use the wireless network. In the first six months of this year, patrons signed onto library computers 837,000 times.

• In addition to checking out books, 89 percent of those surveyed said they used the library's website at least once a month and almost half said once a week. Teens visited the library's website even more frequently.

• In the past decade, visits to libraries increased nearly 57 percent, from 4.6 million in 2000 to 7.3 million last year. Total circulation increased by 136 percent over the decade.

• Two-thirds of Seattle residents — or 381,881 — have a library card, and nearly 33 percent used their card in the past year. Nationally, 56 percent of Americans have library cards. Those over age 60 are least likely to have a library card and use the library.

Many of those surveyed said they'd like to see library hours extended, particularly those who frequent branches that are open five days a week, instead of six or seven. Budget cuts this year resulted in 15 branches having their hours reduced.

Only 20 percent of those surveyed said the current library hours satisfy their needs, and most wanted extra hours on Sundays and evenings.

Hildreth, in an interview, said she was struck by the finding that older residents aren't using the library as much as the younger ones. She said the library may need to do more work on targeting the older population.

She also was surprised that 52 percent of patrons weren't aware the library had online magazines and newspapers and 62 percent didn't know that reference librarians were available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The services can be accessed through the library's website, www.spl.org.

"This information we'll use to frame our strategic plan," Hildreth said of the survey. "We can't try any new initiatives or reinstate library hours." The library plans to release its strategic plan this fall.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com