Generation Next
The new generation of 18-25 year olds is called Generation Next. I think that their experience with technology and its social aspects is an important part of what libraries need to be looking at with their websites. Pew Internet has done a large survey of this generation and it is filled with data that every librarian should be looking at. This is our next generation of adults. Are you prepared to serve them?
They use technology in new and distinctive ways.
They are the "Look at Me" generation because of social networking.
They embrace new technology, but many say that technology makes people lazier.
They support immigration, gay rights and interracial dating.
There is a lot more in the study. Take a look. I think we have to worry about using use of technology to define any generation anymore. There are so many people who use technology and adapt and enjoy it. As a Generation Xer, I was raised before technology was a large part of life. We had Atari and Commodores, but that's about it. Amiga games were so amazing to us! Gen X was supposedly about laziness and just barely getting by. I don't think that's what we became as adults. Ah well.
The information is interesting. The question is what we do with it.