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Page 1: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communitiesDr. Darren Smart

Page 2: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Generic Social Outcomes – what are they?• Framework to help identify

the social outcomes of a service

• Allows systematic collation & grouping of qualitative data

• Established method of measuring Community Well-being

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Page 3: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Stronger & Safer Communities GSO

• Improving group & inter-group dialogue and understanding

• Supporting cultural diversity & identity

• Encouraging familial ties & relationships

• Tackling the fear of crime & anti-social behaviour

• Contributing to crime prevention & reduction

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Page 4: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Health & Well-being GSO

• Encouraging healthy lifestyles

• Contributing to mental & physical well-being

• Supporting care & recovery• Supporting older people to

live independent lives• Helping children & young

people to enjoy life & make a positive contribution

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Page 5: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Strengthening Public Life GSO

• Encouraging & supporting awareness & participation in local decision making & wider civic & political engagement

• Building the capacity of community & voluntary groups• Providing safe, inclusive & trusted public spaces• Enabling community empowerment through the awareness of

rights, benefits & external services• Improving the responsiveness of services to the needs of the

local community, including other stakeholders

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Page 6: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

GSO studies in Essex• This model has been used to look

at a number of facets of the public library service in Essex– Summer Reading Challenge– Baby & Toddler Rhyme Times– Daytime reading groups– Home Library Service– General library use by older

people (75+)– Mobile Library Service in rural

areas

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Page 7: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Aims of the Research

• Each study had its own specific aims but all studies were conducted to– measure the social impact of Library provision– demonstrate the Service’s contribution to Essex’s

commitment to quality of life and community well-being

• Or to put it another way – “Show libraries are more than just a glorified book swap!”

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Page 8: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Data Gathering

• Combination of some/all of the following approaches, as appropriate for the individual study– Consultation with relevant customers using appropriate

questionnaires (e.g. visual ones for younger children)– Observations by GSO trained service development staff – Case studies supplied by library staff/volunteers– Interviews of library staff/volunteers– Assessment of partnership information & partners’ feedback– Use of “historic” feedback/comments gathered previously

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Page 9: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Data Analysis

• Evidence was collated and grouped by trained staff using the GSO framework

• Generated both quantitative & qualitative data

• Reviewed by a second, independent, panel of senior managers as a form of quality control

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Page 10: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: SRC

• Opportunity for families, especially grandparents, to share in an activity together (SSC, HWB)

• Builds children’s confidence (HWB)

• Shows libraries are safe, inclusive & trusted (SPL)

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Page 11: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: B&T Rhyme Times

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• “I have got to know people here and we share ideas”

• “I only came with one child to start with and she has really come out of her shell”

• “We just moved here so we visited the library to find out what goes on here. I felt isolated to start with but now I love living here. Rhymetime helped us to start socialising – and the children’s centre”

Page 12: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: Reading Groups

• “Chance to mix with different people – sharing life experiences”

• “Your lives become included in the book discussion, you make friends”

• “Originally it was more formal with Library guidance, but now we self-manage… everyone voices their opinions”

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27%

22% 25%

4%

15%

4% 3%

Health & Wellbeing:encouraging healthy lifestyles, contributing to physical and mental well-being

Stronger & Safer Communities:Improving Group and inter-group dialog

Stronger & Safer Communities:encouraging familial ties & relationships

Strengthening Public Life:building capacity of community and voluntary groups

Strengthening Public Life:providing safe, inclusive and trusted public places

Strengthening Public Life:improving the responsiveness of services to the needs of local community & other stakeholders Other

Page 13: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: Home Library Service• Encouraging familial ties & relationships (SSC: 33.8%)

– “As I reside alone, the volunteers are a source of friendship”• Supporting older people to live independent lives (HWB: 22.1%)

& contributing to mental well-being (HWB: 36.5%)– “I do a little watercolour painting after the library brought me

books. …improves the quality of my life enormously”• Enabling community empowerment through the awareness of

rights, benefits and external services (SPL: 4.6%)– “sometimes because of the HLS they move into something

else, like the one who started going to a day centre after I put her in touch with Social care”

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Page 14: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: Older People 1

• Improving dialogue & understanding (SSC: 49%)– “Very important part of the community… a focus for getting

up & doing something for all ages & all aspects of life”• Encouraging familial ties & relationships (SSC: 30%)

– “One customer comes with her niece to choose books”• Contributing to mental well-being (HWB: 61%)• Supporting older people to lead independent lives (HWB: 67%)

– Lets me keep up with society… free internet & can learn computer skills, so don’t feel isolated”

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Page 15: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: Older People 2

• Safe, inclusive & trusted public space (SPL: 57%) – “The main library is also a meeting area for many elderly

citizens & their families, a trusted & familiar safe place to go”– “Our library is a most important facility for our community …

not only for books but also groups, information, talks…”• Enabling community empowerment (SPL: 53%)

– “Our Action for Carers afternoon signposted a gentleman who had dementia to all the services that were available to him & his wife who was his primary carer. They have now got applications going through for various benefits & services that they did not know about before”

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Page 16: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: Mobile Library Service 1

• Stronger & Safer Communities (67%)– “It draws people together; there’s a Book Club and people

have coffee afterwards at the WI”– “At Moreton they held events at the Village Hall to coincide

with the Mobile Library visit as a deliberate campaign to promote community spirit between young and old , as the library was a draw to both”

– “Trading Standards used the mobile libraries to encourage older people to check IDs for doorstop callers”

– “The mobile driver told my disabled son about the Keep Safe scheme and now he feels able to go out on his own”

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Page 17: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: Mobile Library Service 2

• Health & Well-being (66%)– “Many partners have come on my library to help promote

healthy living and my customers really appreciate it”– “Ron helped me find a local support group when my Mum

went batty” – “It is a lifeline for the elderly & lets us keep an eye on them”– “The mobile driver told my disabled son about the Keep Safe

scheme and now he feels able to go out on his own”– “We found out about our Telecare pendants on the library”

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Page 18: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Key Findings: Mobile Library Service 3

• Strengthening Public Life (59%)– “The district councillor comes on to hold impromptu surgeries

as he sees it as a good way to meet a range of local people”– “They came on the library to ask us about our bus service.

And they listened!”– “We feel like the driver is part of our community”– “The driver was vital in convincing the women to talk to us”– “I found out about parenting courses to help me with my son”– “We used the Mobiles to tell communities about their rights to

affordable housing”– “I found out where to get debt advice”

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Page 19: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Conclusion

• A library service has a positive impact on all aspects of Community Well-being

• GSO modelling is an effective way of demonstrating this

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Page 20: Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities Dr. Darren Smart

Now over to you…

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