Children, Young Adults and Adult Visitors of the Public Libraries of the United States in terms of the Strauss–Howe Generational Theory

Abstract

In the last decade in society, the topic of new image of the “digital” generation is being actively discussed. In the USA there is widespread the Strauss—Howe generational theory, describing the images and the main factors that influence the formation of the values of generations. It is highlighted the importance of the children’s age, when values are formed under the influence of external events occurring in society, as well as the culture and traditions of upbringing in family. There are presented the results of sociological studies of the two recent “digital generations” of children and young people of the late twentieth — early twenty first century, conducted by the research centres in the United States on the basis of this theory.

In the work of the American librarian L. Farmer there are provided data on the information and educational technologies that the U.S. generations used in the last century. The researcher analysed how the changes in the educational and information technologies have influenced the work, mission and objectives of the American libraries. Today, special importance for the work of librarians and teachers has the understanding of specific features of the new generations — children, teenagers and young adults.