Generic Social Outcome modelling: demonstrating libraries’ value to their communities

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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!”

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. Key Findings: B&T Rhyme Times • “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. Rhymetimehelped us to start socialising – and the children’s centre”

12. 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”

13. 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”

14. 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”

15. 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”

16. 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”

17. 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”

18. 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”

19. Conclusion • A library service has a positive impact on all aspects of Community Well-being • GSO modelling is an effective way of demonstrating this

20. Now over to you…