By Michele Richinick

Movies like “I, Robot,” which suggests that one day the Internet may need to be banned to keep libraries open, may have little legitimate basis. A recent survey by the Pew Internet ‘ American Life Project proves that libraries are not obsolete.

Of the 53 percent of United States adults who said they visited a library in 2007, the biggest users were young adults ages 18 to 30 from the group known as Generation Y, according to the survey, released on Dec. 30.

Generation Y usually refers to people born between 1980 and 1995, according to the Pew Internet ‘ American Life Project. Compared to their elders, Generation Y members were more likely to use libraries for problem-solving information and in general visited them more often for any purpose.

“I think it’s fabulous that 18 to 30 year olds are heavily using libraries. Perhaps it is because this tech savvy generation has both an appreciation of and an expectation for a plethora of good information,” said Maria Carpenter, the head of advancement, marketing and communications at Snell Library. “When they can’t find credible academic sources for free on the net, they tap into the libraries’ offerings, including research and collections, expertise and academic and professional resources.”

The survey showed that 62 percent of Generation Y respondents said they visited a public library in the past year, with a steady decline in usage according to age. “Students use the university libraries for access to electronic journals as well as media tools and materials, and to a lesser extent these days, print resources,” Carpenter said. “Students also seek research assistance, and use the libraries for group and individual study space.”

More than two-thirds of library visitors in all age groups said they used computers while at the library, suggesting users are not necessarily going to libraries to read books.

“I don’t really know how to use the library, the Dewey Decimal System more specifically, and don’t really know how to find what I need. I guess that’s really a sign of the times,” said Lawrence Pious, a sophomore journalism major. “You could say that I’m a product of a new technological age because I know how to Google and browse through the links easier than finding a book in a given section of a library.”

Despite students’ knowledge of and access to the Internet, professors are still requiring them to cite book sources when writing papers.

“Many of the websites on the Internet contain information that is unreliable. It is difficult to determine what is trustworthy and what is not,” said Donna Bishop, a criminal justice professor. “I generally want my students to read peer-reviewed articles (articles that have been vetted by scholars in the field). They can obtain these most often through the NU library website, or through the computers in the library. I also assign books by noteworthy scholars. When students write term papers, it is essential that they be familiar with both the professional journal articles and with books on their topic.”

Mike Grossi, a sophomore journalism major, said books provide great primary sources that help enhance papers, but these are difficult to find online so going to the library is essential.

Overall, the survey results challenge the assumption that libraries are losing relevance in the Internet age.

“When I go to the library I usually use the computers to print long documents, or I go to the reserves desk to get work that my professors leave. Although the Internet is not only faster and a larger place to find sources, it can still be unreliable,”said Seth Cardinal, a communication and cinema studies dual major.

Moreover, 40 percent of young adults said they will use libraries in the future, compared with 20 percent of those older than age 30 who say they would go to a library.

“I go to the quiet floors so I can work without distractions,” Pious said. “I bring my laptop without the charger so I make myself work. It gives me motivation to work more quickly.”

The future of libraries appears optimistic, and professors will continue to expect their students to use libraries for research, Grossi said.

“Professors don’t want their students to be content; they want them to really go out there and discover as much information as they can,” he said.