Library Use Among Youth

This Pew Research Center report found that 53% of millennials ages 18 to 35 last fall said they have used a public library or bookmobile within the last year. The data doesn't include on-campus libraries. Also, roughly half of adults ages 18 and older say they used a public library or bookmobile in the previous 12 months – a share that is broadly consistent with Pew Research Center findings in recent years. The survey also found that women are more likely to visit a library and use a library website. A person's schooling can affect how often someone finds themselves in a library. College graduates were found to be more likely than high school graduates to use libraries in the past year.

Horrigan, J. B. (2016). Libraries 2016 – Trends in visiting public libraries have steadied, and many Americans have high expectations for what their local libraries should offer. Washington, D.C.: Pew Research Center. http://www.pewinternet.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2016/09/PI_2016.09.09_Libraries-2016_FINAL.pdf

Projections in Education

This report includes statistics on elementary and secondary schools and degree-granting institutions. Included are projections of enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures to the year 2017. This is the first edition of the Projections of Education Statistics to include projections of new teacher hires in public and private elementary and secondary schools. In addition to projections at the national level, the report includes projections of public elementary and secondary school enrollment and public high school graduates to the year 2017 at the state level.

Between 2006 and 2018, continued increases are expected in the number of degrees awarded to women at all levels Between 2005 and 2018, the number of doctoral degrees is projected to increase 27 percent overall.

Hussar, W. J., & Bailey, T. M. (2008). Projections of education statistics to 2017.Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, & U.S. Department of Education.

Video Games and Communication Skills

According to a study by researchers in Scotland, playing video games may help improve communication skills. Data show that after two months of regularly playing video games, a test group of students demonstrated improved communication skills, adaptability and resourcefulness. The large effect size and statistical significance of these results support the hypothesis that playing video games can improve self-reported graduate skills. The findings suggest that such game-based learning interventions have a role to play in higher education.

Barr, M. (2017). Video games can develop graduate skills in higher education students: A randomised trial. Computers & Education, 113, 86-97. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.05.016