Library Programs and Services for New Adults

Book excerpt: Addressing the needs of new adults—those ages 18–29—in the library is an important challenge. This book explains the needs and wants of new adults in the public library setting and identifies their preferences in physical space, programming, and technology. According to the Pew Research Center's 2015 Libraries at the Crossroads Report, 52 percent of people between the ages of 16 and 29 visited a bookmobile or library within the past year. Yet many public libraries' programming and outreach skip over this demographic, jumping from teen services to older adults. Library Programs and Services for New Adults provides a road map for including new adults into the family of the small public library and offers a variety of resources and programming ideas that librarians can use immediately. Author Kyla Hunt—a library technology and trends specialist—explains why the needs of new adults are typically overlooked at public libraries, defines who "new adults" are, and explains why serving their needs is key to the success of today's public libraries. Readers will come away with an in-depth understanding of the mindset and needs of patrons who are 18 to 29 years old and be able to cater to their preferences as they pertain to physical space, programming, technology, and marketing.