Libraries change lives
Studies show that public libraries provide significant social value for the communities they serve. Libraries are free and open to all, and deliver numerous positive outcomes in many areas – far beyond the old-fashioned perception of a library as just 'a building full of books'. Evidence shows that public libraries contribute to mental and physical wellbeing, social inclusivity, and community cohesion.
A 2023 study by researchers at the University of East Anglia found that libraries in England generate at least £3.4bn a year in social value through services supporting children’s literacy, digital inclusion, and health. That means that for every £1 spent on libraries, they produce £6 of social value. In other words, libraries improve people's lives.
Our own Guille-Allès Library has been at the heart of life in Guernsey for 140 years. Founded by lifelong friends Thomas Guille and Frederick Allès in 1882, their vision was for the Library to become a hub for culture, learning, and community – and today our goal remains the same. Our mission drives everything we do, and ensures that we remain flexible, adapting to the changing needs of the community.
The core of that mission is to support literacy and reading for pleasure, and of course that means books - with almost 100,000 available to borrow for free. Reading enhances empathy and emotional intelligence, reduces depression, anxiety, and stress – it may even help you live longer. Meanwhile, whether or not a child reads for pleasure is the most important indicator of their future prospects in life - even more important than their family background. In short, reading is good for you. And it’s fun! Promoting reading and literacy benefits everybody, and is one of the best things we can do as a society.
"The Library is my safe place. I've been a member since 1989, and it's helped me through many life experiences."
- Community feedback
Alongside books and reading, other vital Library services include:
- Access to computers and the internet, tackling digital exclusion, which remains a huge societal problem
- A weekly children's activity programme
- Support for school libraries, with a dedicated Schools Team and curriculum book loans
- A diverse events programme including regular reading groups and a key role in the annual Guernsey Literary Festival
- Support for lifelong learning through quiet study space and free access to academic resources online
- A community makerspace, the Fab Lab, helping people learn new skills and explore their creativity
We receive consistently excellent feedback on the service we provide. In 2024 our Net Promoter Score (a trusted metric for measuring customer satisfaction) was 84.2, firmly in the category of 'world class'. Meanwhile, usage has been rising significantly in recent years. In 2023, footfall was 6% higher than the previous year, and 8% higher than the 5-year average before the pandemic.
Again and again what we hear is that the people of Guernsey love their Library, and they need their Library.
More reasons to value libraries:
- Libraries help people stay healthy and well.
- Libraries support vulnerable members of the community, including teens and seniors, people new to the area, and people experiencing homelessness or mental illness.
- Library staff are 'second responders' in a crisis. Through the Covid pandemic the Library provided a steady voice of reassurance for many Islanders.
"I really like the way the Library has something to offer everyone. It clearly makes an effort to be inclusive."
- Community feedback
Got a question about the value of libraries? Email our senior management team on [email protected]
Senior Management Team
