“The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and the ALA Office for Library Advocacy, in partnership with OCLC, today released the report, From Awareness to Funding: Voter Perceptions and Support of Public Libraries in 2018. The research updates OCLC’s seminal 2008 study that explored voter perceptions, use, and attitudes toward public libraries, librarians, and library funding. Access the summary report, infographics, and more at oc.lc/awareness2018. The 2018 survey was again conducted by Leo Burnett USA, repeating questions and segmentation analysis from the original study, to allow for comparison with 2008 results. Key findings include:

• a majority of U.S. voters believe public libraries are essential to communities and a source of civic pride;
• voters still highly value traditional library services such as free access to books and quiet areas, but also increasingly value the library as a community hub;
• there continues to be a disconnect between the services libraries offer and public awareness and support for those services;
• although a majority of voters are likely to support library funding at the local ballot box, fewer are committed to definite support than a decade ago; and
• a majority of voters still do not realize that the primary source of library funding is local…”