In a survey report that has just been released, the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project found that just over half of those surveyed (52%) believe they do not need libraries as much as they used to. But while the survey showed Americans may be split over the essential role of libraries in this age of readily accessible online information, it also showed that libraries remain incredibly popular, and are regarded as vital to their communities.

The latest in a series of research surveys aimed at American libraries, the Pew Research Center Library Services Survey polled 6,224 Americans 16 or older, from July 18-September 30, 2013. And while the results show that Americans still value libraries, it also laid out the emerging fault lines libraries face in the digital age.

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