Only 5 percent thought the public library system was not important while 2 percent did not know. The top three reasons for using the library system were to check out or renew a book, to find specific information they could not find anywhere else and to do research. Recent users are more likely to have children in their home and their children are more likely to use the library. Adults who have used the library in the last year are also more likely to be employed. This suggests one way to increase usage would be to encourage parents to go to the library with their children who are already going.
Past users tend to be older retirees.
Non-users are younger and half are not employed. The top reasons past users and non-users did not use the library more often had to do with lack of interest, not problems of access to the library or facility issues. Respondents felt that the three most important potential services or current services that might be enhanced in the Library system were reading programs for children, literacy programs for adults, and special programs for senior citizens. The Library has found the past three months of engaging the public in discussions about Library services invigorating. It is very evident from the results of the public outreach that people in Seattle love their libraries.