Arts Council England has today (19 July 2017) published four research reports that explore the impact of public libraries.
Arts Council England has today (19 July 2017) published four research reports that explore the impact of public libraries.
The series of reports, commissioned by the Arts Council, show the important contribution libraries make to a range of national and local policy areas, including place-shaping and the well-being of older people. The reports draw on new research and existing data and include case studies, testing whether there is evidence to back up some widespread assumptions. Further detail about each of the reports and links to them can be found below:
Stand by me: The contribution of public libraries to the well-being of older people
This report looks at how libraries contribute to the well-being of older people. It includes five case studies of libraries showing best practice or doing something innovative such as how Wakefield’s dementia friendly library organises high-quality socialising activities. Key findings include:
- The effects of our ageing population are among the biggest social challenges we face – the over 75 population will double between 2014 and 2039.
- More than one in three people over 75 use a public library, so it’s important to look at the role they play in meeting these challenges.
- Read the full report here:
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/stand-me-contribution-public-libraries-well-being-older-people
Re-writing the story: The contribution of public libraries to place-shaping
This report looks at how libraries contribute to place-shaping – promoting the general well-being of a community and its citizens. It includes five case studies from libraries doing innovative work for example, in St Helens, the library service responded to the low participation in arts activities by getting the local community involved in coproducing their Arts in Libraries programme with local people. Key findings include:
- Libraries can play an important role in place-shaping – they are universal institutions with a distinctly local flavour and can help to promote inclusive local growth
- To play a role in place-shaping in their areas, libraries need to be at the heart of local, strategic conversations and respond to local needs
- Read the full report here:
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/re-writing-story-contribution-public-libraries-place-shaping
Libraries as community hubs
This report looks at libraries that are co-located alongside other services within community hubs. It explores different approaches through six case studies and identifies learnings for other libraries. For example, Chelmsley Wood Library in Solihull in the West Midlands offers a Community Advice Hub which is run by AgeUK. It provides a range of advice and support for issues including benefits, caring and health. Key findings include:
- Co-location creates visible benefits for local residents, partners and the library itself.
- The longer-term benefits of placing libraries at the heart of community hubs makes unsettling change well worth it
- Read the full report here:
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/libraries-community-hubs-case-studies-and-learning
Evidencing audience reach
This report shows that the Library audience is broadly representative of contemporary England. It also provides evidence of what many who know libraries believe, that there is a ‘life cycle of library use’ (giving reasons why people dip in and out of using their library). Key findings include:
- It’s common place for people’s use of libraries to fluctuate during their lives. Trigger factors include when people have children, lose a job or are studying
- Data drawn from across a range of sources confirms that:
- Households with young children are more likely use libraries
- A higher proportion of people identifying as of BME background are library users compared to those identifying as White
- Libraries have broader reach than other cultural organisations
- Read the full report here:
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/evidencing-libraries-audience-reach-research-findings-and-analysis
Darren Henley, Chief Executive at Arts Council England said: “Libraries reach people everywhere. They’re landmarks in our great towns and cities offering creative opportunities to everyone including in those areas where the arts and cultural infrastructure is thin. We want the contribution of what libraries already achieve and what they could in the future to be better recognised.
“We commissioned this series of reports to research, test and emphasise the role of libraries in their communities and in people’s lives. They show the important contribution libraries make to a range of national and local policy areas, including place-shaping and the well-being of older people. I hope these reports will be used by both library services and our partners to inform decisions and inspire future work.”