The library contribution to well-being:CILIP Public and Mobile Libraries Group

9 October 2015

Brian Ashley

Director, Libraries

Arts Council England

Paignton Library, Devon

Photo: Michael Cameron Photography

The library contribution to well-being

• Brief overview: the Arts Council and libraries

• Libraries, health and well-being

• Economic contribution of libraries: health + well-being

• Making the case; looking to the

future

• Questions/discussion

Arts Council England: our wider role

• The Arts Council is the national development agency for

the arts, museums and libraries in England

• Our mission is “great art and culture for everyone”

• We work to achieve this through: • advocacy, partnerships, development and investment

• We:

• create and encourage partnerships

• stimulate the cultural and creative role of libraries

• find and secure new funding opportunities

Arts Council England: achieving great art + culture for everyone

1. Excellence is thriving and celebrated in the arts, museums + libraries

2. Everyone has the opportunity to experience and be inspired by the

arts, museums and libraries

3. The arts, museums and libraries are resilient and environmentally

sustainable

4. The leadership and the workforce in the arts, museums and libraries

are diverse and appropriately skilled

5. Every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the

richness of the arts, museums and libraries

The Arts Council and public libraries………

• Stimulating the artistic and cultural role of libraries

• Building evidence of the value and purpose of libraries

• Animating libraries as creative spaces and services

• Celebrating reading as:• a creative act

• a cornerstone of literacy

• the powerhouse of learning

• Finding new partners

The library of the future: enduring role, new experience

Libraries are trusted spaces, free to enter and open to all. In them

people can explore + share reading, information, knowledge + culture

Three ingredients define the public library

• Safe, creative space, enjoyable to use, physical/virtual

• Excellent range of quality books, digital + other collections

• Access to expertise, well-trained + friendly people

Three responses to change

• Innovation: new services and new ways for traditional services

• Imagination : making places and meeting spaces

• Involving: co-design and co-production

Envisioning the library of the future: priorities

• Place the library as the hub of the

community

• Make the most of digital

technology and creative media

• Ensure the libraries are resilient

and sustainable

• Deliver the right skills for those

who work in libraries

Priorities for the development of public libraries

Libraries and well-being: who else is making the case

Libraries and well-being: what is the contribution?

The broader case for libraries contribution to health and well-being

• Literacy as a determinant of physical and mental health

• Information: supporting health literacy; making informed choices

• Reducing isolation

• Reading to relax

• Bibliotherapy

• Safe and trusted spaces for community health opportunities

• Co-located health services

Libraries and well-being: capturing the contribution

The background to why we commissioned this research

• The Arts Council and the holistic case for culture

• DCMS and the value of benefits of sport and culture

• Economic value of libraries research in the UK and across the world

• Gaps and opportunities

• Getting past the statement of the obvious

• Phase 1: Evidence Review

• Phase 2: Primary + secondary research

Phase 1 – evidence review

We commissioned BOP to undertake an evidence review:

• National studies exploring how public libraries contribute to the economy

• direct contribution, impact or value

• indirect contribution, impact or value

• Three hypotheses:

• financial impact (direct/indirect/induced/visitor)

• regeneration impact (footfall/image/reputation)

• total economic value (private and community benefits

• Logic models showing levels and weight of evidence

Phase 1: evidence review - logic models examples

Reading

Digital

Phase 1: logic model for health + well-being

Research and evaluation studies demonstrate:

• impact of existing service activity but the data is not robust or consistent

• need for further research – to cover all services + to aim at medical profession

• potential but unquantified savings of driving “prevention agenda”

Phase 2 – primary and secondary research

We commissioned Simetrica to undertake further research:

• Focus on 1 policy theme – health and well-being

• Choice of Simetrica – linked to DCMS and Treasury Green Book

• First study to assess the value of the wide range of services provided by

libraries

Phase 2 – primary and secondary benefits

Value of improvement in the

individual’s quality of life

and wellbeing.

Impacts on government revenue• Tax receipts

• Benefit payments

• Cost reductions

Phase 2 – valuation methodology

• HM Treasury Green Book

consistent methodology.

• Contingent valuation

(wellbeing)

• Exchequer cost savings

(health)

• Best-practice methodology

Phase 2: primary benefits – contingent valuation

• Set up a hypothetical market for the service.

• Describe the service and its provision.

• Directly ask people for their maximum

willingness to pay for the service.

• Survey: Online survey with 2,100 adults in England

(1,330 library users + 770 library non-users).

Entreaty

Payment card

Phase 2: primary benefits – contingent valuation

Willingness to pay is highest for:

• People under 45

• Parents with dependent children

• People with degree education

• People who use libraries for health services, lectures

and talks and for socialising

Willingness to pay is lowest for:

• Unemployed and inactive people

Phase 2: secondary benefits – NHS cost savings

Taking Part Survey (DCMS) used to estimate

impact of library engagement on general health.

General health

Use of libraries

Aggregated economic contribution of library services to

aspects of health and well-being

Total annual ‘willingness to pay’ for health benefits from library

services (users & non-users) in England

£723m

Aggregate primary and secondary economic contribution of

library services in England (annual) to aspects of health and

well being

£748m

Reduction in General Practitioner (doctor) costs as a result of

library services - per library user per annum

£1.32

Annual cost-savings for the National Health Service £25m

Phase 2: using the values

• Values should be seen in the context of the costs of running library services.

• The benefits of maintaining public library services in England can be

compared to the costs in CBA (Green Book consistent methodology).

• Should inform investment decisions and can be used for funding

proposals.

• Primary benefits exclude the value of library buildings and core services such

as book-lending.

• Secondary benefits exclude non-health benefits (eg, crime and employment).

This much we know………..the evidence is there…….

• Libraries are good for your health

• Libraries cut the costs for health and social care services

• Libraries can be commissioned to deliver improved health

outcomes

• Health and social care partners are ready to be convinced

• You have to make it happen

Making the case: how to do advocacy

• Stats and stories – head and heart

• Who is your audience?

• What is the change you want to achieve?

• How long have you got?

• Tailor the message to people and place

• Be confident and make it natural

• It’s hard work; there’s no entitlement, and it won’t land on

your plate

Next steps

For the Arts Council………….

• The rest of health and well-being

• Another policy theme

• New territory

For you……………

• Be pro-active

• Be influential

• Be persistent

Thank you and questions

Please contact me:

Brian Ashley

Director, Libraries

Arts Council England

brian.ashley@artscouncil,org.uk

…..and look at our website

www.artscouncil.org.uk