Public libraries are doing a lot these days.
They’re places where patrons can take exercise classes, receive job training, or even get vaccinated. If you’re interested in learning about mental health, you can participate in library workshops that teach about the warning signs of depression. If you want to improve your dietary habits, you can participate in one of the nutrition programs many libraries have created (some of which even serve meals!) Regardless of your age, chances are that your public library has something to offer you—whether you’re a kid looking for summer reading programs, a middle-aged adult interested in learning a new language, or a retiree looking for companionship.
But little is known about the impacts of public programs, or about what makes a public program successful.
The evolution of US public libraries into bonafide community centers dates back at least as far as 1992, when the ALA’s Public Programs Office was established to support what, at the time, was regarded as a non-traditional type of library service. Since then, library public programming has risen dramatically, and the trend is unlikely to abate any time soon. In 2016, the number of programs held in U.S. public libraries was 5.2 million — an increase of 72% from 2010. Responses to this development have been overwhelmingly positive. In 2014, for example, a survey conducted by Pew Research indicated that 45% of all American library users believed that programs and events were “very important” to them.
Clearly, library public programming is here to stay. But there’s much to learn about its impacts, and about the skills library workers need to conduct successful public programs. The American Library Association (ALA) and Knology, a social science research nonprofit have been investigating these things since 2017 through the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA). Our goal with this project, which is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is to provide a foundation for understanding the varieties of library public programs in the U.S. — along with their impacts.
Publications
Interested in digging into the research? Check out the white papers, reports, and publications that have resulted from years of study.
