What is the potential of public libraries to promote public mental health and wellbeing? Findings from a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults

Purpose of research: To explore the potential of libraries as community hubs to promote mental and physical health and wellbeing. Design: Cross-sectional online survey and interview-based study with community-dwelling adults and library staff. Methods: We analysed data from 58 respondents using a 14-item electronic survey and conducted interviews with 12 library users and staff to gauge perceptions. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to identify key trends and emergent themes. Results: Libraries remain popular and are considered a 'safe place' by members of the community, irrespective of whether they are frequent users of services. Library users' lack of awareness of community-facing services could act as a hurdle to improving community health and wellbeing. Targeted engagement with residents is needed to increase awareness of the services libraries offer, including community interventions to help tackle loneliness and inequalities in digital and health literacy. Library staff often did not feel involved in important decision-making. Various barriers and drivers and practical recommendations were identified to leverage libraries as hubs to promote community health and wellbeing. Conclusion: Libraries already offer a variety of resources that either directly or indirectly support the health and wellbeing of community-dwelling adults and young people, but public awareness of these services is limited. By acting as community hubs, libraries are ideally suited to deliver interventions to help tackle the increasing health and digital inequalities following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic