Trends

AADL Strategic Planning - Community and Society Trends Task Force

Erin Helmrich, Teen Librarian

Aurora Lee, NEB Clerk

Jeff Mayer, Security Assistant

Margaret Nieman, Bookshelver

Trends

Aging Population The oldest “baby boomers” are now 59 years old. By

2010 the age range for boomers will be 46-65 These new seniors will have more $, more time, more

energy and differing needs from previous generations of seniors

According to the AARP/Modern Maturity Ann Arbor was ranked in the top 10 of their 2000 list of desirable places to live.

Service

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Ethnic & Lingual Diversity

July, 2001 AA News reported an rising Asian population

August, 2001 AA News reported that Spanish speakers in MI will increase by 50%

October, 2003 AA News reported that nearly 800,000 state residents age 5 and older speak a language other than English at home

The Youth Department is not meeting the demands for foreign language materials

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Population and Development

The Greenbelt passed “The Ann Arbor tax lobbed a direct hit at real estate developers, who had mounted an expensive campaign to defeat the proposal” Detroit News, Nov. 2003

Population growth is largest on the southwest side of the city

“The passage of Proposal B supporting a Greenbelt has made me ponder the idea of increased density on the Old West Side…As the mass of people increases, the services available…making urban living more attractive.” Grace Shackman, Old West Side News, Jan. 2004

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Facilities Trend!

Trends

Library Cardholders by Age

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

Birth to age 12

Ages 13-17

Ages 18-30

Age 30 +

Library Use by Age

• According to AADL’s 1999 User Intercept Study those under age 24 are least likely to use the library

• According to the 1999 AADL StarWorks data male focus group participants indicated that they would use the library more if:

More quiet, adult-only seating, the collection included more “sophisticated” and current materials, the research process was quicker and if they could use the library to try out new software and hardware technology

• The Starworks data also indicated that young professionals would use the library more if:

Materials were home delivered, they could easily try out software and CDs before buying them, there were more drop-off points for library materials, more expedient searches and assistance with their professional needs and if AADL could help them navigate their busy, media-loaded lives by offering more information, and selection assistance with entertainment products

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Local Competition

Coffee Shops New and clean materials Extended hours Similar Programs

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Environment & Aesthetics• According to Faith Popcorn's, Dictionary of the

Future, people are looking for ways to make their environments more calming, and inspiring. This can range from incorporating "Feng Shui" practices into the planning process or learning from "spa" environments by adding water features (fountains, aquariums).

• People spent $5.3 billion on spa visits in 1999 - up from $2.1 billion in 1997.

• Studies have shown that aquariums and water features have been shown to lower blood pressure and decrease agitation in stressful busy environments.

Facilities Trend!

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Technology

According to Media Audit Ann Arbor ranks 3rd in the nation for internet usage with 70.2 percent of its citizens saying they went on-line at least once per month

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Library Programming is Booming The multi-purpose room is not

large enough to accommodate the growing numbers at our programs

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