Clearinghouse of Professional Information

Social Value of the Library

While sometimes difficult to measure, there is widespread agreement that public libraries are a public good because they provide significant social value.  With current interest in lifelong learning, community revitalization, cultural planning, settlement services for newcomers, public space and place making, and the creative economy, the public library’s social role is arguably more important than ever.  The resources on this page have been gathered to help library staff articulate the social value of the library in meaningful, relevant terms.  See also the Community Development, Creative Economy and Libraries as Cultural Partners sections of the Clearinghouse.

SOLS consultant Anne Marie Madziak is available to answer general inquiries on this topic. She can be reached by phone or by e-mail at

OLS - North provides assistance through its library development program. John Slater, our Library Development Advisor, Policy and Planning will assist libraries in working through this process. John can be reached by phone or by e-mail at

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Topics include

General Resources | Libraries as Public Spaces |Measuring Socio-economic Benefits of Public Libraries | Social capital/social inclusion |

	indicates an item written by SOLS staff		indicates an item written by OLS-North staff
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General Resources

• Third Generation Public Libraries: Visionary Thinking and Service Development in Public Libraries (to 2020) and Potential Application in Ontario. Report for the Ontario Ministry of Culture. Prepared by Wendy Newman, 2008. Full Report, 61p. (pdf) (The Newman Report)

Libraries as Public Spaces

• How to Make Your Library Great (Project for Public Spaces) To succeed today, libraries must master many different roles--some traditionally associated with libraries, some not. Includes Canadian examples.
• People Places: a guide for public library buildings in New South Wales. 2nd edition, 2005. (.pdf) (Library Council of New South Wales) This document provides a wealth of practical advice on the challenging process of planning a new public library building to meet the needs of the community. The coverage of building issues is thorough and relevant to libraries in Ontario.
• Project for Public Spaces (PPS) A nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining public places that build communities.

Social capital/social inclusion

• Building social capital through networking: how public libraries can be more than repositories of information (.pdf) A report prepared for the Fairfield City Library Service, Australia.
• Libraries as a Community Resource: Promoting Social Inclusion (U.K.) This report prepared by David Hayes Associates for the Department for Local Transport, Local Government and the Regions (UK) discusses the role of public libraries in tackling social exclusion and offers best practices.
• Libraries Create Social Capital. (2001) By Kranich, Nancy. November 15, 2001. Retrieved January 25, 2006 from Library Journal
• Libraries for All: Social Inclusion in Public Libraries: policy guidance for local authorities in England. UK Dept. of Culture, Media and Sports. Heritage, Libraries and Museums Section. October 1999. Excellent document on the role of public libraries in their communities.

Measuring Socio-economic Benefits of Public Libraries

• The Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit. (ALA) The toolkit provides resources and tools, including news clips, op-eds, and statistics to help library supporters make the case for libraries in these times. Talking points on the economic value of libraries (with return-on-investment examples), libraries and the economy and upswings in library usage are included.
• Best investment: the modern public library as social capital (.pdf) By Dr. Alan Bundy. Paper presented at the AGM of Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA) Altona, Victoria, August 27, 2003. This paper discusses how public libraries can achieve their full potential and build social capital.
• DIVIDENDS: The value of public libraries in Canada Researched by Jody Warner Written by Leslie Fitch and Jody Warner for The Library Action Committee of the BOOK AND PERIODICAL COUNCIL
• Focus on Demonstrating Impact 2006: Building Partnerships. In January of 2006, WebJunction focuses on how building community partnerships can be the key to demonstrating the library’s impact and "getting a seat at the table."
• How They Stack Up - Canadian Edition. 2004 (OCLC) This report contains some interesting comparisons of library economics and activities to other sectors, professions and destinations in the worldwide economy.
• Library's Contribution to your Community Prepared by dmA Planning and Management Services and Southern Ontario Library Service, 2d edition, 2007
• Use of Public Libraries In Hard Economic Times 2009  (Nova Scotia. Provincial Library) Includes a bibliography of relevant links
• The Seattle Public Library Central Library: Economic Benefit Assessment. " The transformative power of a library to redefine learning, community and economic development." (Berk & Associates)
• Sustaining Communities: Measuring the Value of Public Libraries. (.pdf) Phase One: A Review of Research Approaches. Commissioned by the New South Wales (NSW) Public Library Network Research Committee to explore and then measure the contributions made by NSW public libraries to the communities they serve. This report is a literature review of assessment and evaluation research approaches to investigating and demonstrating the impact and value of public libraries.
• Taxpayer Return on Investment in Florida Public Libraries: Summary Report, September 2004(.pdf)