The Use of LAM-institutions in the Digital Age

Abstract

Amidst much speculation on the impact of digitalization, there have been no lack of visions for the future of libraries, archives, and museums (LAM institutions). Sometimes digitalization has been perceived as a useful tool for fulfilling the aims of enlightenment and free access to information and cultural heritage, and other times the digital development has been framed as a threat or game-changer for the LAM institutions. In this chapter, we present empirical data on the use of digital LAM services, and we elucidate how users relate to digital LAM services and LAM services in general. We think the present-day use of digital LAM services is a good indicator of where LAM institutions are heading in the coming years, and relevant for LAM-policy development in government and the institutions. This way, we bring data on digital use, and perhaps some realism to the never-ending debate on the future of LAM institutions. Important questions are: what does digitalization of user services in libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs) mean for patrons – do patrons use the digital services offered by the LAM-institutions? Which digital services are used? What are they used for?<p>

<p>We analyze how user characteristics, such as country, gender, age, education, income, urban/rural, immigration status, and home Internet access correlate with the digital service usage in LAM institutions. By comparing patterns of use as reported by users in six European countries, we examine variation in patterns of digital use between the countries. Do differences indicate different trajectories of development towards multiple LAM futures, or do they indicate national LAM systems on different stages of development towards a shared future of LAM use? The lack of time-series data makes it difficult to conclude on whether national systems have changed and how they have changed, and calls for future data collection, preferably at five-year intervals. At this point, we present data from a survey to representative samples of the Hungarian, Swiss, German, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian populations conducted in June 2017. The national samples vary from 1,002 respondents up to 1,021. Altogether, we have 6,050 respondents (see Audunson et al. (2019) for more information about the data collection process). This analysis is based on quantitative and qualitative data on digital use from the survey.<p>

<p>First, the chapter contains a review of professional and scholarly debates on LAM institutions and digital development; second, a presentation of the findings from the survey on the use of digital services in LAM institutions; third, a presentation of free-text analysis of the user responses on content accessed and activities engaged through digital LAM services; fourth, based on the findings we discuss the relevance of the LAMs as digital public sphere institutions today and implications for future LAM adaptation in the digital age.