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The health and wellbeing benefits of public libraries

Date: 26 March 2015

In 2014, Arts Council England commissioned Simetrica to conduct a study to value the health and wellbeing benefits of public libraries.

Libraries have an important role in society as providers of a range of services from book-lending, computer access, and meeting spaces, to a provider of children’s activities and training courses. But understanding the value of libraries is a complex issue due to the wide-ranging services that libraries provide and the inherently non-market nature of these services (most are free at the point of use).

This study looks at the value of the health and wellbeing benefits of library engagement measured through economic value, using methods that are consistent with the HM Treasury Green Book guidance.