In this survey of the public, we find Americans prize public library service and see libraries as potential solutions to many communities’ most pressing problems, from universal access to computers to the need for better options for keeping teens safe and productive. But few Americans are aware of the increasingly tenuous financial picture faced by many libraries. Forty-five percent give an "A" to their local community for maintaining well-run libraries, far ahead of any other community institutions, including schools, parks and police.
Research Studies: Libraries
Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century
I am not in a 'developing country'... but am an American living abroad and I was absolutely appalled when I discovered the local public library CHARGES USER FEES!! $5/book; $3/DVD; $1/magazine; etc; etc. It has now become a crusade to change this alarming trend and turn this country's public libraries back into FREE libraries!!
A thriving library is one which is welcoming to all regardless of economic or social status. As an American citizen living in a developing country, I can truly say this is the beauty of the American public library system. Whether you're seeking reference information or access to the internet, it's the perfect place. When travelling abroad I go to internet cafes, but in the U.S., I use public libraries for all my internet and research needs.