Parents' Perceptions of Librarians Survey 2023

In a recent comprehensive survey, “Parent Perceptions of Librarianship 2023,” the EveryLibrary Institute and Book Riot asked parents across the country about their perceptions of librarians, even as school librarians and public library staff are under attack over book bans and censorship issues. The survey results show that parents from all walks of life have a high level of trust in both school librarians and public librarians, and high degrees of satisfaction in their libraries overall.

Americans are conscious of the broader role of librarians in society, with a considerable number of parents acknowledging the political implications of library work. Contrary to the narratives that so-called parent rights groups are advancing, parents across America value librarians' roles in our communities and our children's education. Pro-censorship groups do not represent the vast majority of parents or guardians in their beliefs about librarians, reading, education, and civil society.

Overwhelming Trust and Comfort
An impressive 92% of parents, grandparents, and guardians trust librarians to curate appropriate books and materials, and this trust extends to their recommendations for their children. Likewise, parents feel very comfortable with the library as a safe space for children, with 90% of parents reporting being comfortable allowing their child to select their own materials and a remarkable 96% feeling their children are safe within the library.

Satisfaction with Librarians
Librarians across the country receive an overall satisfaction rate of 85% from parents, with 51% expressing very satisfied and 34% satisfied. This is a strong indicator of the positive interactions and services provided by librarians.

Relatability and Community Presence
Parents perceive librarians as relatable figures, with 69% agreeing with this sentiment. Librarians are seen as integral community members, with a majority acknowledging their role in supporting children’s learning and understanding community needs. The survey reveals that librarians are not only friendly and approachable but are also champions of fun, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Ranking Trustworthiness of Professions
In the arena of trust, school librarians and public librarians shine, standing in the top five most trustworthy professions alongside healthcare providers and educators. Public and school librarians boast high trustworthy percentages, underscoring the respect they command in their professions.

Children's Independence at the Library
Parents recognize their children's ability to select suitable reading materials independently, with the confidence levels varying by the child's school level. A majority of children have their own library cards, indicating a significant level of engagement with library services. Parents across the country value a diverse book selection and knowledgeable staff above all. 

Politics and Librarianship
Librarianship stands at an intersection of public service and politics. While a considerable number of parents acknowledge the political implications of library work, the survey shows that Americans are conscious of the broader roles librarians play beyond books and databases. While some see librarians' role as politically engaged, a larger portion favor a nonpartisan stance. This points to the non-partisan nature of the role libraries have in supporting informed, literate communities while remaining stewards of unbiased information access. 

Authority in Book Selection
Parents see the authority to select books in libraries as invested in the profession and in the library or school board above other roles. Parents rate librarians and library boards as the most trusted entities to make these decisions, above parent groups and far above local officials or state legislatures. A huge majority of respondents report that the issue of book banning matters when they vote. 

Engagement with Libraries
Many parents are familiar with library operations, from requesting books to understanding the Library Bill of Rights. This familiarity suggests a proactive engagement with libraries and their policies. The survey reflects responses from a diverse demographic, with most parents visiting a library in the past year. 

Demographics and Responses
The Parent Perceptions of Librarians 2023 Survey was fielded in two parts during November 2023. All respondents were required to have children under 18 living in their home. Most self-reported being parents, grandparents, or guardians. The majority of respondents, 76%, had visited a library within the past year, and a robust 84% held a library card. Parents of children across all educational stages participated. Most respondents, 68%, have children attending public schools, while the rest are distributed among private, charter, and homeschooling. 

Detailed Findings: Parent Perceptions of Librarians
November 28, 2023

Top Level Findings

• 92% trust children’s librarians to select appropriate books and materials for the library
• 92% trust librarians to recommend age and content-appropriate books and materials to them and their children
• 90% report that they feel comfortable allowing their child to select their own materials (books, magazines, movies, audiobooks, games, etc.) from the library
• 96% say they feel their children are safe in the library

Detailed Findings

*We asked parents to rate their overall impression of the librarians across the country:

• 51% were very satisfied with librarians
• 34% were satisfied
• Only 6% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied
• 12% of the respondents were neither

* We asked those parents to tell us if they Agreed or Disagree with the following statements:

• 69% agree that a Librarian is someone they can relate to
• 53% agree that the librarian is well-known in the community 
• 85% agree that librarians support children’s learning
• 70% agree that librarians understand their community's needs
• 77% agree that librarians make the library a place for fun and creativity
• 78% agree that librarians are true advocates for lifelong learning
• 77% agree that librarians are friendly and approachable
• 67% agree that librarians are knowledgeable about their community
• 75% agree that librarians are experts at connecting people to what they need
• 83% agree that librarians know what books children would love

Professional Trust Rankings

*We asked respondents to rank various professions for their relative Trustworthiness and Untrustworthiness, both Public Librarians and School Librarians were in the Top 5 most trustworthy professions alongside health care and educators:

Children and Reading 

When asked, “Do you feel that your child is capable of selecting their own reading materials from the library?” respondents said: 

• Pre-K = 8.75%
• Elementary = 37.89%
• Middle School = 27.64%
• High School = 17.82%
• Any age = 6.94%
• Never = 0.96%

When asked if their child/children have a library card:

• 64% report that “Yes, they do have a personal library card”
• 14% report that “They use my library card to check out books”
• 17% say, “No, they do not have a personal library card”

On the issue of “age-restricted” library cards, 35% report being Unsure if their library has an age restriction. Otherwise, 44% of parents say that their library is restricted by age, and the remaining 35% say that the library does not. 

Parents report that the most important resources available at their local library are: 

• Having many types of books = 46.06%
• Knowledgeable staff = 40.72%
• Public computers = 33.26%
• Programs for families = 27.86%

Parents report that they use books (46%), computers (32%), and programs (27%) offered by their libraries most frequently and rely on knowledgeable staff (30%) when visiting their library.

Politics and Librarians

When asked, “Do you think public librarians have a political agenda?” parents are not of one mind:

• Yes, and they should = 35%
• No, but they should = 9%
• Yes, and they should not = 12%
• No, and they should not = 44%

Additionally:

• 9 out of 10 report being registered to vote. 
• 7 out of 10 report that “Book banning is an issue that is important to you when you vote.”
• Respondents self-report being aligned with the Republican Party at 28%, the Democratic Party at 45%, and Independents or non-aligned at 24%.

*When asked, “Who should have the authority to select books in a public library?”: (1 being the lowest ranking, 5 being the highest ranking)

• Librarians (3.6) and Library Boards (3.4) were rated highest, followed by
• Parents Groups (3.2), with
• Local Elected Officials (2.4) and State Legislatures (2.2) being ranked lowest.

The rankings are the same for school libraries, with  School Librarians (3.6) and School Boards (3.3) ranking higher than Parent Groups (3.1), Local Elected Officials (2.5), and State Legislatures (2.3). 

Familiarity with Library Policies and Practices

• 85% of parents say they are familiar with how to request a specific book at their library
• 43% of parents say they are familiar with collection development policies at their library
• 43% report knowing how to find their library’s collection development policy
• 43% are familiar with the Library Bill of Rights
• 56% of parents say that they would know how to file a complaint to the library about a book they consider inappropriate
• 62% of parents said that they were aware that a Master's Degree is required for many jobs in libraries. 

Demographics of Long Survey

1004 Qualified Parent or Guardian respondents

Margin of Error +/- 4.5%

76% of respondents have visited a library in the past year; 84% of respondents report having a library card

Schooling: 

Children in Pre-K - 17.67%

Elementary School - 40.68%

Middle School - 35.33%

High School - 44.27%

Type of School: 

68% of responding parents have children in public schools

24% are in private schools

9% are in charter schools

9% are homeschooled

9% are not currently enrolled 

Age of Parents and Guardians Responding:

18-26 = 4.5%

27-42 = 41%

43-58 = 47%

59+ = 7.2%

Responding parents and guardians were 77% White, 11% Black or African American, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, while 4.5% were Asian, API, or Native American.

The respondent panel was 85% self-reported as a “Parent,” 7% self-reported as a “Grand Parent,” and the remainder as other relationships or legal guardian status. 

Household income for respondents was:

Under $50,000 = 27%

$50,000 to $100,000 = 26%

$100,000 to $200,000 = 27%

Over $200k = 8.2%

*Demographics of Short Survey

523 Qualified Responses

Margin of Error +/- 5.2%