The Library Generation: Why Gen Z and Millennials Need America to Fund Libraries Now

A growing body of research shows that Gen Z and millennials not only use libraries more than older Americans, but they also depend on them. Young people are utilizing libraries for job hunting, academic support, mental health resources, and simply as a place to feel safe and connected. Libraries have become a lifeline for Gen Z and millennials.

In Arkansas, libraries are becoming key spaces for fellowship and community among Gen Z. An American Library Association (ALA) report featuring a 2022 study on how younger generations use the library confirms this, finding that:

• • Fifty-four percent of Gen Z and millennials had visited a physical library within the previous twelve months.
  • More than half of the 43 percent of Gen Z and millennials who didn’t self-identify as readers had been to their local library in the past twelve months.
  • Black (58 percent) and Latinx (57 percent) physical library patrons use digital collections more than the general survey population (52 percent).

Dr. Kathi Inman Berens, professor at Portland State University and coauthor of the study, notes that "libraries are popular among Gen Z and Millennials, even among self-identified non-readers. Gen Z and Millennials want and need the resources public libraries offer.”

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Berens goes on to explain that “just as they flit between multiple media formats, they also jump between modes of access: libraries to bookstores to influencer posts to subscriptions, and back again. Libraries are a notable way Gen Z and Millennials discover books."

Yet, while these generations are seeking out libraries in record numbers, America continues to underfund them.

Compare this to Finland—the world’s happiest country—where public investment in libraries is a national priority. The result? Young people in Finland feel more optimistic, connected, and supported. 

Meanwhile, CNN reports that Americans under thirty feel worse about their lives than older adults, citing less support and fewer opportunities for well-being.

The data is clear: If we want young people in the US to succeed, we must start funding the places that support them most.

Together, we can give Gen Z and millennials the assistance they need, starting with the library down the street.

Sign our petition to demand increased federal and local funding for libraries. Consider donating as well to help us today in defending and expanding library access for all.

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

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