Information Related to "In the News Apr/June 2008"
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Libraries in Use
According to a recent survey by the
Pew Internet and American Life Project, 53 percent of U.S. adults said
they visited a library in 2007, and the biggest user group was Generation
Y, ages 18 to 30. The study found that those who use the Internet were
more than twice as likely to frequent libraries as those who did not.
As a result, public libraries have increased their online resources
and software to appeal to this new demographic.
"Two-thirds of library visitors in all age groups said they used computers while at the library" (Pew Internet and American Life Project, Reuters, Dec. 30, 2007).
Interestingly, a 1996 survey of young adults found that most saw libraries becoming less important in the future. "Scroll forward 10 years and their younger brothers and sisters are now the most avid library users," said Lee Rainie, coauthor of the new survey (Julie Vorman, "Generation Y Biggest User of Libraries Survey," Reuters, Dec. 30, 2007).
High Caffeine—Dangerous Consequences
Many high-caffeine "energy" drinks
containing double or triple the amount of caffeine found in traditional
soda are causing near heart attack conditions in some young people.
Doctors are finding more and more young patients who need to be treated after drinking too many "energy" drinks on dares, to stay awake to study or to stay up and play video games. Symptoms like dizziness, fainting, dehydration, heart palpitations, seizures and excessive heart rate are resulting in emergency room visits and sometimes death.
MySpace and YouTube users who feature videos about the drinks and their excessive consumption on their pages have served to augment the trend (Katharine Mieszkowski, "Spiked!" Reader's Digest, July 2007).
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