If you need to do some advocacy to support the importance of youth services programming, materials, and staff, a new study from the Pew Research Center gives you some great statistics to quote!  Here’s one:  Almost every parent (97%) feels it is important for libraries to offer programs and classes.  That’s a lot of parents!  Here are some other key findings:

• 94% of parents say libraries are important for their children and 79% describe libraries as “very important.” That is especially true of parents of young children (those under 6), some 84% of whom describe libraries as very important.
• 84% of these parents who say libraries are important say a major reason they want their children to have access to libraries is that libraries help inculcate their children’s love of reading and books.
• 81% say a major reason libraries are important is that libraries provide their children with information and resources not available at home.
• 71% also say a major reason libraries are important is that libraries are a safe place for children.

Plus, parents are more likely to use libraries than other adults are:

Nice to have some more back-up, isn’t it??

Thanks to Marge Loch Wouters and Paul Nelson for the heads-up about the most recent Pew Research Center’s study.