The Millennial Generation Its Use of Academic Library Services and Expectations from the Digital Library Marta Mestrovic Deyrup, Seton Hall University Libraries Workshop Overview Millennial Demographics and Characteristics Use of Digital Information and Library Services Reconfiguring Services Participant Discussion Workshop Wrap-Up Readings Provided Online at LIDA Site Millennials Rising: the Next Great Generation (Neil Howe, William Strauss and R.J. Matson) Born with the Chip (Stephen Abram and Judy Luther) Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants (Mark Prensky) The Internet Goes to College (Steve Jones, Senior Research Fellow, Pew Internet & American Life Project) Educating the Net Generation (Diane G. Oblinger and James L. Oblinger, eds.) What Students Want: Generation Y and the Changing Functions of the Academic Library (Susan Gardner and Susanna Eng) Inventing Library Buildings and Services for the Millennial Generation (Richard T. Sweeney) U.S. Millennial Demographics Born roughly between 1980-2000 Have a variety of names: Generation Next, Net Generation, Generation Y, Echo Boom Generation Who of you are Millennials? Who of you are members of Generation X? Who of you are Baby Boomers? U.S. Millennial Demographics Second largest generation after Baby Boomers Ethnically tolerant: 60% of 18- to 29-year-olds have dated someone of a different race (2006 Gallup Poll) Multicultural: One in five have immigrant parents (Generation Y: the Millennials 2006 Report) U.S. Millennial Demographics Latchkey children: One in four live in single parent households (Generation Y: the Millennials, 2006 report) Politically liberal Highly educated: number of undergraduates in 2004 (17.3 million) almost double that in 1970 (8.6 million) (National Center for Education Statistics) Why the Interest in this Generation? Research coming from the Educational, Library, Social Sciences and Business/Marketing Community Demographics First “information age” generation Heavy integration of gaming and social skills Globalization (can be studied as a world phenomenon) Why the Interest by Library Community? Decrease in use of traditional library services Competition from Internet, Google, Wikipedia, commercial vendors, other sources Generation “gap” between librarians (Baby Boomer Generation) and user group (Millennials) New educational paradigm (independent learners) Renewed interest in library as place Demographics by Race (taken from Generation Y: The Millennials, NAS Insights) Educational Level by Gender (taken from Generation Y: The Millennials, NAS Insights) Student data in 1970 and 1999 Source: NCEA Statistics 2002/ taken from Understanding the New Students 1970 1999 Enrollment 7.4 million 12.7 million Two-year enrollment 31% 44% Women 42% 56% Older than age 25 28% 39% Employed N/A 89% Have dependents N/A 27% Snapshot of Generational Timeline Source: Generation Next, Speak Up, Be Heard, PBS News Hour 1982—AIDS identified 1985—Ozone layer discovered 1989—Destruction of Berlin Wall; demonstrations in China’s Tianenmen Square 1991--End of the Soviet Union and the Cold War 1996—Oklahoma City Bombing 1999—Columbine shooting 2001—September 11 2003—Iraq War 2005—Hurricane Katrina 2007—Virginia Tech shooting For those of you born after 1980, what are the key historical events in your life? For those of you born between 1965 and 1980, what are the key historical events of your life? For those of you born before 1964, what are the key historical events of your life? Personal Characteristics Sources: Generation Y at a Glance; Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Survey; the Myth about Students Products of youth safety movement Heavily influenced by their peers and media 3 out of 4 eat dinner with family daily Family centered: 90% have close relationship with mother; 65% a close relationship with their father Identify with parents’ values Personal Characteristics Source: Sweeney: Reinventing Library Buildings and Services for the Millennial Generation Value education and learning Are patriotic and civic-minded Expect instant gratification Independent Believe in and practice a healthy lifestyle Expect income to exceed their parents Want a balanced relationship between work and family Learning Styles Source: First Steps Towards Understanding the Net Collaborative: comfortable working in teams Achievement oriented Believe in merit-based systems Impatient: tune out if not interested Communicate through social networks Non-linear: visual literacy, multi-media literacy If you are a Millennial, do these descriptions describe you? If you are not a member of the Millennial generation, do these descriptions describe you? Personal Characteristics and Significance for Libraries Straw polls show that Millennials are willing to support library bond issues Recognize the value of public libraries—particularly children’s rooms Value the notion of library as place Understand that at the university level they must use library resources in order to succeed Will there still be print resources in library in the next 10 years? If not, what will replace them? Media Consumption Source: Harrison Group/Deloitte Touche Survey: February 23-March 2007 Millennials (13-24) Enjoy reading print magazines 71% Use print magazines to find out what are newest music, cars, clothes 58% Average IM list size (most frequent topics: TV shows) 37 people Create personal content weekly (blogs, videos, websites) 58% Consume user-generated content weekly 71% “Digital Natives” vs. “Digital Immigrants” Source: Mark Prensky Digital Immigrants Digital Natives Non-native speakers Native speakers Traditional learners Trial and error learners (by college (digital language of computers, video games, the Internet) graduation less than 5,000 hours spent reading, 10,000 playing video games) Legacy content (reading, writing, arithmetic, logical thinking) Future content (digital and technological content) Approach to Digital Information Mass customization ATM attitude Information as a commodity “Information is information and NextGens see little difference in credibility or entertainment value between print and media formats” (Abram and Luther) Gender Differences in Computer Use Source: Educating the Next Generation Men: more hours playing computer games, surfing Net, downloading music Women: more time using computers to communicate Higher GPA’s spent more hours using computer in school-related activities Do you play videogames? If so, how often? M Would you use gaming technology for learning how to use library resources? XB Would you be willing to experiment with gaming technology to provide library resources or services? College Student Technology Use Source: 2003 College Statistics Have access to the Internet 100% Own a cell phone 97% Own a computer 93.4% Use computer to write documents, email and surf the Net 99.5% College Student Usage of Cell Phones and IM for Communication Source: Educating the Next Generation Use cell phone to text message 68% Use cell phone for instant 14% messaging Instant messaging top choice for 50% communicating Log on to instant messaging several 66% times a day Do you use communication technologies like Instant Messaging and Ipods? If so, how often? M Would you use communication technologies like Instant Messaging and Ipods to access library resources? XB Would you be willing to experiment with gaming technology to provide library resources or services? Weekly Technology Usage and Activities at College Level (Source: Educating the Net Generation) Classroom activities and studying using an electronic device Writing documents (word processing) Surfing the Internet for pleasure 4.01 Downloading or listening to music or videos/DVDs Using a university library resource to complete a class assignment 3.15 3.76 3.7 2.46 Technology Preference by Academic Major in College Coursework Source: Educating the Net Generation Discipline No Technology Limited Technology Extensive Technology Engineering 4.8% 24.4% 67.8% Business 1.3% 28.2% 64.3% Life Sciences 5.7% 35.3% 56.3% Social Sciences 7.9% 44.4% 44.2% Education 3.5% 47.9% 42.9% Humanities 7.7% 47.9% 40.2% Assessment of Students’ Technology Skills Source: Educating the Net Generation Student self-assessment (qualitative): high-level technical skills and efficient in Internet searching Research data (quantitative): in particular freshmen overrate skills, most have only basic office suite skills, email, Web surfing skills. Have trouble moving beyond basic activities Generational Educational Problems Poor reading skills: NEA survey, “Reading at Risk” reports a ten percent decline in reading from 1982-2002 Short attention spans Lack of reflection and critical thinking skills Problems with evaluating value of information Problems with concept of ownership of information Problems with concept of plagiarism XB Do you agree with this assessment of students’ reading, critical thinking and information literacy skills? M Do you agree that there is a problem? MXB If you agree, what have you/your library done in response or what would you do in response? Educational Preferences of Undergraduates (Source: 2002 PEW Report Internet Goes to College) Prefer classroom to online learning Value face-to-face time with faculty and faculty expertise Ability to multitask while doing assignments Informal learning often takes place online Research Preferences of Undergraduates Source: 2002 PEW Report Internet Goes to College Prefer to use Internet before doing library research Prefer to use commercial search engines to library Websites Use the library to socialize, study At the library majority of time spent surfing the Web, IM chatting, emailing 80% of college students use the library less than 3 hours a week Comparing Online Information Searching to Library Use Source: 2002 Pew Internet and American Life Project College Student Survey Use Internet more than the library 73% Use Internet and Library about the same Use Internet less than the library 16% Don’t know 2% 9% Leavey Library Survey: Undergraduate Library Use Source: Gardner and Eng: What Students Want: Generation Y and the Changing Function of the Academic Library Study alone Use a computer for class work Study with a group Use a computer for personal reasons Check out a book Printing Use a collaborative workroom Check out reserve materials Get research assistance Use print journals or magazines 80.6% 61.3% 55.2% 51.1% 36.3% 35.5% 30.5% 19.5% 12.6% 12.0% Results of the Leavey Library Survey: Library Satisfaction on 4-point scale Source: Gardner and Eng: What Students Want: Generation Y and the Changing Function of the Academic Library Hours of Operation Study space 3.67 3.14 3.11 3.11 3.03 2.99 2.90 Print center 2.82 Circulation/Reserves Desk Service Range of Material in library Computer workstations Research assistance Library instruction Computing assistance Results of the Leavey Library Survey Source: Gardner and Eng: What Students Want: Generation Y and the Changing Function of the Academic Library Demand for quality academic facilities and high academic achievement Need for customization of technology and research Need for integration of technology into learning Usage of new communication modes Take a few minutes and discuss the situation at your library. XB What services are your students using or not using. Do you know why? M What are the first things you would change in library services if current technology was no barrier? Policy Disconnects Source: Millennial Net Value(s): Disconnects Between Libraries and the Information Age Mindset Library policy decisions focus on developing electronic text-based libraries without much multimedia content Library systems need expert instruction to use Library is present outside student services (learning management systems and social networking arenas) Access to information reflects library organizational structure rather than user preference or usage Library lacks support for file-sharing, worksharing and other trust-based transactions Library Recruitment Policies Most librarians over 50 Trouble recruiting to the profession younger individuals Trouble recruiting multi-ethnic librarian to the profession Trouble recruiting men to the profession BX Do you employ any librarians who are from the millennial generation? If so, what job functions do they perform at the library? BX On the average, how old is your library staff? M What would make you want to work in a particular library? Why? Opportunities for Academic Libraries: Redesigning Services Millennial behavior Library response Achievement oriented; belief in merit-based systems Library as means to academic success Expect instance gratification • Make virtual/physical library available 24/7 • Reconfigure electronic information access for ease of use Are comfortable with marketing and branding techniques Emphasize brand; present Millennials with compelling vision to maintain their loyalty (Sweeney) Opportunities for Academic Libraries: Redesigning Services Source: Millennial Net Value(s): Disconnects Between Libraries and the Information Age Mindset Millennial behavior Library response Non-linear thought processes and highly developed visual fluency •Addition of multimedia information to library electronic holdings •Emphasis on information literacy Communicate through social networks; consume and create user-generated content •Use of blogs/wikis/social tagging •Encourage development of self-learning tools Collaborative/comfortable working in teams •Integrate library into course management system Opportunities for Academic Libraries: Redesigning Library Spaces Source: The Myth about Students Traditional design Reconfigured space Form follows function Spaces for active and collaborative learning Buildings of collection Focus on library as place Rigid design Maximum flexibility: information commons, multimedia production areas, small-group workspaces Examples of Change: Portable Devices MobilLIB: North Carolina State University The Mobile Computing Project at Ball State University North Carolina State MobilLIB Project MobiLIB will allow users access to predominantly libraryoriented services through cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other mobile, web-enabled devices. Given the increasing availability of such devices and their growing usage among the libraries' user population, this service will make a selection of services available that are assumed to be most useful to the users of mobile devices. MobiLIB will both link to already existing information providers (such as an external site indicating the current location of the university's WolfLine buses) and create greatly simplified interfaces to services such as the libraries' online catalog, opening hours listings, the computer availability map or a campus directory. Based on user reactions and feedback, other services can be added in the future. Ball State Mobile Computing Project 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Reference Links CardCat Mobile Mobile Journals Videos Collections Services Information About • Mail Us • Site Search Examples of Change: Social Networks IOWA State Experiment Course management systems, Distance education, Information commons, Learning communities in Facebook Library blogging at Eastern Connecticut State University Iowa State Experiment We believe that social networking sites such as Facebook are excellent environments to foster and facilitate contact and communication among members of a local community. We also believe that as a structured, yet open, communication venue within an educational community, Facebook can also serve a place and space in which library and librarian services can be more actively and visibly promoted. During the Summer 2007 semester, we will undertake a series of outreach initiatives using Facebook. We will contact select members of the university Facebook community to inform each of the availability of core services offered by the reference and instruction department (e.g., book and journal selection, library presentations, research assistance) as well as general library services (e.g., interlibrary loan, library collections, reserve and media services). The Plagiarism Blog Keeping Current on Plagiarism, Cheating & Academic Integrity AP Wire | 04/11/2006 | Student accused of plagiarizing film reviews Student accused of plagiarizing film reviews Apr. 11, 2006 Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. "Officials at the University of Missouri-Kansas City are investigating a former writer for the school's student-run newspaper after he was accused of plagiarism." posted by Susan | Wednesday, April 12, 2006 Plagiarism persists in classrooms By Kate York The Marietta Times Wednesday, March 22, 2006 "As local educators use new techniques to spot plagiarism, a case at Ohio University shows that the Internet isn’t the only way today’s students are passing off the work of others as their own." posted by Susan | Wednesday, March 22, 2006 Example of Change: Student Portals University of California, Irvine Experiment General library information channel in student portal (hours, maps, policies, job openings) Search box for catalog, library website, contact a librarian, account status Portal caches log-in after first time Examples of Change: Nomadic Computing Mount Sinai Hospital Experiment Library offers databases available to doctors through palm pilots and other devices Mount Sinai Hospital Download Library Resources to Your PDA Several of the Levy library's licensed databases provide free downloads for Mount Sinai PDA users: Access Medicine - Download pages from Harrison’s, Hurst's the Heart, Williams Obstetrics, Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine, the Lange Series and more. Save and download content to your PDA from any content page by clicking the Save for PDA link. Diagnosaurus, a differential diagnosis tool, is also available for download. Requires registration and a free Mobipocket Reader download. Click on PDA Downloads to get started. eMedicine - Includes expert written topic reviews on a variety of specialties. Download the complete content for a specialty or select subtopics within a specialty. Your selections are emailed to you as downloadable files for your PDA. Requires a free MobiPocket Reader download. MICROMEDEX - Download mobileMICROMEDEX, which includes drug information as well as databases on alternative medicine, disease information, and toxicology. MDConsult - Download POCKET Consult, which includes Mosby's Drug Consult and 20 free medical calculators. You also get medical news, drug updates, and journal abstracts. An MDConsult personal account registration is required. Click on MY PDA to get started. PsychiatryOnline - Download the complete DSM-IV-TR Classification for PDA. You can also download pages from the the DSM-IV-TR® Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-IV-TR® Handbook of Differential Diagnosis, the Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry, Essentials of Clinical Psychopharmacology and more. Requires a free registration and a free Mobipocket Reader download. Examples of Change: Gaming North Carolina State Experiment Interactive games with board game themes to teach information literacy Second Life Library 2.0—virtual reality, avatars, virtual library, online events Examples of Change: Embedding Information Literacy in the Classroom Seton Hall Experiment Librarians as coach/tutor in Course Management system Redesign of core curriculum to include information literacy as a “proficiency” Examples of Change: Library Redesign Oklahoma State University Library Experiment Student Success Center: essential services on first floor, 24/7 access, group study and collaborative rooms Take a few minutes for discussion. XB Have you recently redesigned or restructured the physical space in your library? If so, how? M How do you use the library? What would you like to see different about the library building or space? Open Discussion