Over 50% of all Americans visited a library in the last year, with young adults 18-30 the most likely adult cohort to visit a library for any purpose, according to a new survey conducted by the University of Illinois -- Urbana-Champaign and the Pew Internet & American Life Project.  The study was funded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, which provides federal support for libaries and museums.

The national phone survey presented adults with ten problems and asked whether they had encountered any of them in the previous two years, and how they looked for help.  Generation Y adults were the most likely to use libraries for that kind of information, in addition to visiting libraries more frequently for any purpose. 

The study highlights the changing role of libraries, which now serve as free Internet access points as well as offering reference and other information in printed form.  And it illustrates why manga, other graphic novels, games, and anime have all found fertile ground among young users of libraries.