The source does not provide detailed information regarding the questions and possible answers of the survey. The wording chosen here might therefore differ slightly from the wording of the survey. Results are from a survey of 2,986 people age 16 and older conducted November 16-December 21, 2011. The survey was conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones.
Citation formats
Methods of acquiring print books in the U.S. as of December 2011
This graph provides information on preferred methods of acquiring print books among print book readers in the United States as of 2011. During the Pew survey, 38 percent of respondents stated they preferred borrowing books from a library.
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Pew Research Center. (April 10, 2012). When you want to read a print book, do you prefer purchasing your own copy, or borrowing it from a library or some other source? [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 03, 2026, from /statistics/237156/methods-of-acquiring-print-books-in-the-us/
Pew Research Center. "When you want to read a print book, do you prefer purchasing your own copy, or borrowing it from a library or some other source?." Chart. April 10, 2012. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 03, 2026. /statistics/237156/methods-of-acquiring-print-books-in-the-us/
Pew Research Center. (2012). When you want to read a print book, do you prefer purchasing your own copy, or borrowing it from a library or some other source?. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 03, 2026. /statistics/237156/methods-of-acquiring-print-books-in-the-us/
Pew Research Center. "When You Want to Read a Print Book, Do You Prefer Purchasing Your Own Copy, or Borrowing It from a Library or Some Other Source?." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 10 Apr 2012, /statistics/237156/methods-of-acquiring-print-books-in-the-us/
Pew Research Center, When you want to read a print book, do you prefer purchasing your own copy, or borrowing it from a library or some other source? ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/237156/methods-of-acquiring-print-books-in-the-us/ (last visited August 03, 2026)
When you want to read a print book, do you prefer purchasing your own copy, or borrowing it from a library or some other source? [Graph], Pew Research Center, April 10, 2012. [Online]. Available: /statistics/237156/methods-of-acquiring-print-books-in-the-us/
