Publications

President Obama on Monday laid out his second term priorities, naming a range of issues: the social safety net, entitlement programs, income inequality, climate change, gay rights and immigration reform. Here is what our surveys have found about public opinion on these topics.

Overview With the public paying close attention to the national debate over gun control, Barack Obama’s gun proposals receive a mixed rating from the public. A 39% plurality say Obama’s proposals are about right while another 13% say they do not go far enough. About three-in-ten (31%) say the president’s proposals go too far; 17% […]

Just 44% of those under 30 know that the Roe v. Wade ruling dealt with abortion, compared with 62% of all adults.

The internet has already had a major impact on how people find and access information, and now the rising popularity of e-books is helping transform Americans’ reading habits. In this changing landscape, public libraries are trying to adjust their services to these new realities while still serving the needs of patrons who rely on more traditional resources.

Libraries are key technology hubs in their communities. Many patrons would like even more tech-centered services, but ultimately many feel that print books remain important in the digital age.

With a 74 point partisan gap, Barack Obama starts his second term with a lower approval rating than other presidents – except for George W. Bush.

About eight-in-ten blacks said in a 2009 poll that more changes were needed in the country to give them equal rights with whites.