CULC releases national study on the social impact of urban public libraries
February 1, 2026
On Friday, January 30, 2026, the Canadian Urban Libraries Council/Conseil des bibliothèques urbaines du Canada (CULC/CBUC) released a first-of-its-kind National Social Impact Study on urban public libraries in Canada, exploring the role public libraries play in community life and social wellbeing by drawing on data and lived experience from more than 18,000 respondents across 26 Canadian urban public library systems.
In partnership with the Danish firms Is It a Bird and It Depends, CULC/CBUC conducted a national study using several research methods, including online surveys and individual interviews. The resulting report offers empirical data that explore in depth the value of public library programs, spaces, and services in the communities they serve.
“The Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC) is thrilled to be launching this first-of-its-kind national study, supported by CULC member libraries, to better understand and demonstrate the deep social, emotional, intellectual, and creative impact public libraries across Canada have for the millions of Canadians who use them.” – Sarah Meilleur, Chair of the Board, CULC/CBUC and Chief Executive Officer, Calgary Public Library
“Libraries have always known on an intuitive and anecdotal level the deep and meaningful impact public libraries play in the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve. Now, for the first time, we have the numbers to prove it.” – Mary Chevreau, Executive Director, CULC/CBUC
Main takeaways from the report
1. Libraries matter to individuals, communities, and society
For individuals, the library supports personal growth by offering a safe space outside the home, access to unbiased information, and opportunities to explore and invest time in personal interests.
For the community, the library enables the opportunity to build new connections in an open, shared space.
At the societal level, libraries contribute to making society more equal, inclusive, and less biased.
2. Libraries deliver impact across four dimensions
Libraries exhibit demonstrated emotional, intellectual, creative, and social impact. The highest impact scores are seen in the Intellectual and Emotional dimensions, especially for Collections and Programs. The Social dimension generally scores lower, though Collections stand out as inspiring ‘Empathy’, and Programs stand out with high scores across all three parameters of the Social dimension, showing that Programs create community, relations, and empathy.
3. Collections is still a core library service
Despite many opportunities for Canadians to consume literature and content outside libraries, the Collections remain a core service offered by libraries. It is the most used service pillar, used by a total of 91% of library users.
Programs is the least used service, used by 35%, but has the highest impact score of all service pillars, illustrating that those who do use Programs experience them as very impactful across all four dimensions.
4. Broad support among nonusers
Although not all Canadians engage with their local public library, a large majority of nonusers find that the library plays an important role.
70% of non-users agree that a public library is one of the most valuable resources a city can offer its community.
And 83% of non-users agree that it is good for children to have a relationship with their public library while growing up.
The experience of impact differs across different user segments
1. Libraries deliver impact for five distinct user segments
Impact does not necessarily look the same across different groups of users. Factors such as cultural background, personal situation, and life stage influence which library services are most relevant and most impactful.
Across youth, parents, seniors, people who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, and newcomers to Canada, libraries deliver impact in different ways.
2. The library space is a common third, safe, and welcoming space
Young people, parents, people who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, and newcomers to Canada generally experience stronger impact from Spaces than the average library user.
Spaces stand out as a third, safe space providing opportunities for quality time with the kids, for working or studying away from home, and for having a calm place to step back from the busyness of the outside world.
3. Programs are highly popular for some segments
Programs are used much more by people who identify as First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, by newcomers to Canada, and by parents. About 50% in each of those three segments have used Programs within the last year, compared to 35% among all users.
Programs allow parents to bond with their children while the kids develop new skills. For newcomers, Programs help them overcome language barriers as well as navigate and adapt to their new surroundings.
4. Libraries deliver especially high impact for newcomers
Newcomers experience a particularly high impact of libraries, with an average score of 3.6, compared to 3.3 for the average library user. Particularly, the parameters ‘Expression’, ‘Skills’, and ‘Perspective’ score highly, reflecting how libraries act as a stepping stone for newcomers to connect with Canadian society and culture.
While newcomers use Collections a bit less than the average user, they use both Programs and Spaces much more than the average user.
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