New research commissioned by Suffolk Libraries reveals how vital libraries are to their communities

New independent research shows how libraries have evolved to become a vital lifeline to local communities and how they play a pivotal role in people’s wellbeing.

Suffolk Libraries is the charity which has been running Suffolk’s library service for the past ten years.

The study by Moore Kingston Smith revealed that thanks to their pivotal role in supporting communities, Suffolk’s libraries generated £41m worth of social value, translating to £6 social value for every £1 invested and saving NHS services in Suffolk a whopping £542K per year.

In simple terms, social value is a means of quantifying the importance that people place on changes they experience in their lives. The study brings to life libraries’ unique ability to support the NHS’s preventative health agenda which is now being delivered through its new integrated care systems.

With a wide range of free, well-used and much needed services across all 45 branches, Suffolk Libraries offers a vital lifeline to local communities, encompassing all ages from babies and toddlers through to older people and including some of the most vulnerable.

Extending far beyond the traditional lending of books and digital media, Suffolk Libraries is unique in being the first and only library service with a dedicated community mental health and wellbeing team.

The Suffolk Libraries model also empowers local managers to identify the specific needs of their local community. Suffolk Libraries is already a key preventative mechanism that can stop people from requiring urgent intervention. It tackles key societal challenges such as meeting basic social needs, mental health support and combatting isolation and loneliness - improving wellbeing across communities and positively changing lives.

Considered as a safe space, accessible to anyone, the research has shown that libraries provide a community hub with an almost limitless ability to make stigma-free social connections, regardless of background or financial status.

Activities offered by Suffolk Libraries include groups, clubs and activities, space provision and hosted events, financial services, talks, walks and performances, friends groups and volunteering activities. These are all hosted by library staff, volunteers and outside partners.

From providing much needed essential resources during the cost of living crisis such as a warm, welcoming space, free digital access and free coffee and healthy fresh fruit and veg to running a variety of support groups such as Men Can Talk (men’s mental health), LGBTQIA+, Knit and Natter and ‘We Are Radikl’ (a network for fledgling female entrepreneurs), libraries in Suffolk are increasingly recognised as the first port of call for anyone in need of wellbeing support, social connection and impartial information.

With new initiatives being introduced on a regular basis, including the upcoming menopause and perimenopause support service, Suffolk Libraries continues to respond to the changing needs of its population. Signposting to other specialist assistance is also a key aspect of the role that the libraries have in the community, ensuring that expert help - for example the warm handover and domestic abuse safe spaces services - is made easily accessible to those that need it most.

Other targeted services, such as those provided to parents with very young children are also proving very popular, providing a welcoming environment where children can socialise and learn while parents benefit from connecting with peers. The study has shown that young children gain better language and social skills through regular exposure to new people and environments.

Bringing IT into the lives of 11,000 people who do not have digital access, the research also details how Suffolk Libraries has improved social and family engagement for those with geographically distant relationships while also enhancing education and employment opportunities by providing access to job clubs and helping local community members acquire new skills.

Suffolk Libraries Patron, presenter, producer and script writer Emma Freud OBE said:

“Suffolk Libraries are the way to stop things getting to crisis, the way to create a system of community, a preventative measure. I thought I knew what libraries in the UK were all about - I was entirely wrong. The 45 'Suffolk Libraries' are really special - run by a charitable trust, independently from the council, they exist as a centre of support, warmth, education and connection for our communities.  

“They’re not just here to lend inspiring books (though they do that too) - they are busy, vibrant, crucial centres of activity... tackling loneliness for parents and young children, or tackling isolation for the elderly, running classes to help adults become more employable, hosting Citizens Advice sessions for ALL citizens, as well as craft clubs, film clubs, theatre events, gardening lessons, conversation sessions for non-English speakers, and a stack of events to nurse the creativity of an entire county. 

“Suffolk Libraries could clearly be seen as a role model for other libraries across the UK, saving the NHS a significant amount of money in Suffolk every year by reducing pressure on GPs, fewer outpatient visits and mental health assessments.”

Commenting on the findings, Bruce Leeke, Suffolk Libraries CEO, said:

“We are delighted with these findings which clearly demonstrate the powerful role that libraries play in our community, offering an extensive and inclusive portfolio of services which span the generations, embracing the diversity of our local population and its wide variety of needs.

"The traditional view of libraries as a place to simply borrow books or a quiet place to study is being superseded by a growing appreciation that libraries are evolving and now represent a vital partner in the provision of essential care, support and guidance, reducing the burden on the NHS and other statutory services, and delivering tangible financial value to the communities that they serve.”

Moore Kingston Smith was engaged to complete the research, and the report, written by MKS, outlines the results of the social impact measurement exercise. The full report is available to read on our website.