State Library of NSW releases research showing benefits of libraries
The State Library of NSW has released new research highlighting the social value and community benefits of libraries.
Key findings from the report, released in late March 2026, include:
- People who visit libraries have higher self-reported health and wellbeing, and the more frequently they visit, the better they feel.
- 64% of respondents believe that public libraries are places of safety and belonging.
- 67% of frequent State Library users agreed that the library helps with mental wellbeing.
- Libraries generate a total of $1.13 billion in community value.
Commenting on the report, state librarian Caroline Butler-Bowdon said, “Libraries have never mattered more. They are places of knowledge and ideas, but they are also the cornerstones of our community as places of belonging, connection and joy.
“A staggering 40 per cent of NSW residents are members of their local library [… and] we now have robust data confirming just how vital libraries are to our communities.”
The research, conducted by SGS Economics and Planning, Prescience Research, and Cred Consulting, was commissioned by the State Library to mark its 200th anniversary. It surveyed 6000 NSW residents and conducted a cost-benefit analysis.
Alison Holloway, principal and partner at SGS Economics and Planning, said, “Our research adopted a best practice approach to valuing free community services. The opportunity to examine the association between library services and health and wellbeing creates a benchmark for future studies.”
The full report, “Balancing the Books: Valuing the State Library and NSW Public Libraries”, is available on the State Library website.
Category: Local news
