According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, American millennials, defined as ages 16-29 in this study, use the public library as much as their elders and read more than their elders (at least one book in the past year).

But in a startling twist, even though millennials use libraries as frequently as their elders, they tend to downplay their importance. “Despite their relatively high use of libraries, younger Americans are among the least likely to say that libraries are important. Some 19% of those under 30 say their library’s closing would have a major impact on them and their family, compared to 32% of older adults, and 51% of younger Americans say it would have a major impact on their community, compared with 67% of those 30 and older,” the report reads.

In addition, researchers made another intriguing discovery, which is that millennials are more likely than their elders to say that the Internet lacks some important information available at the library; however, 79% of millennials also believe that people without Internet access are at a great disadvantage.

The report also provides information regarding the relationships of elders and millennials to libraries, which differ due to differences in lifestyles, but also use of technology and media. Patrons under age 30 are more likely than older patrons to use libraries’ computers and Internet, but less likely to say that these resources are important to them and to their families. And, younger patrons were more likely to agree than those age 30 and older that, “public libraries have not done a good job keeping up with newer technologies.”