Legal Research

More Lessons from the US Election

Don Tapscott, of Grown Up Digital and other bestsellers fame, points out that:

"New figures released by the Census Bureau confirm that the 18-29 age group was the only age group that increased voter turnout in the 2008 election compared to 2004. The new numbers are posted on the United States Elections Project website, which is operated by Dr. Michael McDonald of George Mason University."

"The turnout rate for citizens age 18-29 increased 2.1 percentage points between 2004 and 2008 while all other age categories experienced a decline. The 30-44 age group dropped by 0.6 percent, the 45-59 group dropped 1.5 percent, and the 60+ group declined by 0.7 percent. This increased turnout by young people helped ensure President Barack Obama?s victory."

This has several implications for the savvy library system, especialy if they depend on voters for bond issues, new building votes, etc. Some research show that young people under thirty are highly supportive of libraries given their more recent memories of supportive school libraries, great public library story hours and college and university help centres - as long as they were good and modern.

Now that a significant cohort of these folks have been engaged in the political process, are findable through social networking tools, and believe that they can have a positive impact on change - we have a hope of engaging them in understanding the role of libraries in their communities.

Savvy libraries will target this new cohort. The tipping point was 2008.

Stephen

Full post as published by Stephen's Lighthouse on April 15, 2009 (boomark / email).