dec12_ff.indd


C&RL News December 2012  720

Gary Pattillo is reference librarian at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, e-mail: pattillo@email.
unc.edu

G a r y  P a t t i l l o

Younger Americans reading
More than eight in ten Americans ages 16 to 29 read a book in the past year. Six in ten 
used their local public library. Many say they are reading more in the era of digital content, 
especially on their mobile phones and on computers. Seventy-five percent read a print 
book, 19 percent read an e-book, and 11 percent listened to an audiobook.
Kathryn Zickuhr, Lee Rainie, Kristin Purcell, Mary Madden, and Joanna Brenner, “Younger Americans’ Reading and Library 
Habits,” Pew Internet Libraries, October 23, 2012, http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/10/23/younger-americans-reading-
and-library-habits (retrieved November 5, 2012).

Translation database
Three Percent, the Web site named after the oft-cited statistic that only 3 per-
cent of books published in the United States are translations, has created a new 
translation database. By collecting catalogs and asking publishers directly, Three 
Percent provides a record of the books published in translation since January 1, 
2008. Titles are limited to original translations of fiction and poetry published or 
distributed in the United States. The public is invited to contribute to the database.
“Three Percent: Database,” Three Percent, November 1, 2012, www.rochester.edu/College/translation/threepercent/index.
php?s=database (retrieved November 2, 2012).

Titan supercomputer
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory created Titan, the fastest supercomputer to 
date. It is capable of performing more than 20,000 trillion calculations per second 
(20 petaflops), about twice as fast as its nearest competitor. Titan is intended for 
research in energy, climate change, efficient engines, and materials science. The 
supercomputer’s development cost more than $97 million and is expected to cost 
about $9 million per year in electricity, but it will also generate significant revenue.
“ORNL Debuts Titan Supercomputer,” October 29, 2012, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases 
/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20121029-00 (retrieved November 5, 2012).

Academic library patron profiles
Library Journal produced a report describing actual usage and perceived value 
of academic libraries based on 3,251 respondents from the higher education com-
munity. The report found that “students require richer engagement with librarians 
beyond the first year, to be developed through increased collaboration, outreach, 
and social media interactivity, and quality service present at the library.” When 
asked why they visit their academic library, college students ranked free Wi-Fi, 
print collections, and convenience as their top three reasons. Only 5 percent of 
students claimed they “never” visit the library.
Matt Enis, “New LJ Report Closely Examines What Makes Academic Library Patrons Tick,” November 5, 2012, Library Journal 
Web site, http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/11/academic-libraries/new-lj-report-closely-examines-what-makes-academic-
library-patrons-tick (retrieved November 6, 2012).

Most difficult admissions
U.S. News and World Report ranked the 100 most difficult colleges to get into in the United 
States, based on the fall 2011 entering class. The three most difficult colleges to be accepted 
into are Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (3.2 percent acceptance), Julliard School 
in New York City, and Harvard University. Coming in at number 100 is College of the 
Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a 33.1 percent acceptance rate.
“Top 100 - Lowest Acceptance Rates | Rankings,” n.d., U.S. News and World Report, http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews. 
com/best-colleges/rankings/lowest-acceptance-rate?src=stats (retrieved November 7, 2012).