Universal Reading Offer
Evidence Bank: @ March 2012
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We have started to draw together the evidence for the impact of libraries’ reading work.
Go to the end of the document for an example of the advocacy messaging approach
This takes the health and well being outcome and uses the research to make our main points
Outcomes – Learning, skills and employability
Outcomes – Learning, skills and employability
Evidence of reading’s impact
Evidence of impact of library work
Reading for Change: performance and engagement across countries,
OECD, 2002
Low income and early cognitive development in the UK, Washbrook, E
and Waldfogerl, J. Sutton Trust 2010
PISA Reading Tests, 2006 and 2010
Summer Reading Challenge, UKLA 2009
Readers and Reading,: the National Report for England 2006, Twist, L.
Schagen, I. Hodgson, C. PIRLS 2007
CIPFA Public Library Statistics, 2009/10 Actuals, 2011
Public Libraries and Literacy, National Literacy Trust, 2011
Literacy Changes Lives, National Literacy Trust, 2008
Head Start: the Social Impact of Boots Books for Babies, Morris
Hargreaves McIntyre, 2004
Literacy: a route to addressing child poverty. National Literacy Trust
2011
Building Learning Communities: the role of museums, libraries and
archives in supporting individuals and families through the effect of the
recession, LGA 2010
Weaving Reading for Pleasure into the Skills for Life Adult Literacy
Curriculum: Creativity in Teaching and Learning. Sue Oakey, National
Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy, 2007
UK Public Libraries: roles in adult literacy provision. Mcloughlin, C.
Morris, A. Journal of Librarianship an Information Science March 2004 vol 36
no.1 p37-46
The impact of the “Power of Reading” in raising motivation and
attainment in reading and writing. Case study from Carlton Central Junior
School, Nottinghamshire, for the Department for Education
Benefits for All Older People from Learning in Museums, Libraries and
Archives, Aldridge & Dutton, NIACE, 2009
Report of the Inquiry into overcoming barriers to literacy, All Party
Parliamentary Group for Education, supported by BESA, July 2011
Work, Society and Lifelong Literacy: Report of the inquiry into adult
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Investigating the role of language in children’s early educational
outcomes, Sue Roulstone, James Law, Robert Rush, Judy Clegg, Tim
Peters Department for Education June 2011 Research Report DFE 134
ISBN 9781847759467
literacy in England. NIACE, 2011
Parenting matters: early years and social mobility, Chris Paterson,
Centre Forum 2011
Book Ahead programme evaluation, Report to MLA, funded by DCFS,
ERS, Sept 2009
Boys into Books Programme evaluation, Report to MLA funded by DCSF,
ERS, 2009
Building a society for all ages: benefits for older people from learning in
museums, libraries and archives. Aldridge, F and Dutton, Y. NIACE 2009
British Cohort Study, Oxford University,
http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2011/110804
Confidence All Round, Morris Hargreaves Mcintyre, 2005
Recent trends in UK prison libraries. Bowe, C. Library Trends vol 59. no
3 (2011 Winter) p 427
This Cultural and Sporting Life: Taking Part 2010/11 Adult and Child
Report, DCMS 2011
Literacy, State of the Nation, NLT, 2010
Bookstart Theoretical Framework – provides evidence to demonstrate the
benefits of sharing, books, stories and rhymes for children. Booktrust
Taking Part, child survey Arts Council 2008/9
HeadSpace Report, Reading Agency, 2008
Cultural Education in England: an independent review by Darren Henly
for DCMS and DFE. DCMS 2012
Six Book Challenge evaluations, Reading Agency
Local authorities improving life chances: a review of a new
approach to raising literacy levels. McCoy, E. National Literacy Trust,
2011
Understanding the drivers, impacts and value of engagement in culture
and sport: an overarching summary of the research. The Culture and
Sport evidence programme, July 2010, DCMS
Outcomes – Health well being and quality of life
Outcomes – Health well being and quality of life
Evidence of reading’s impact
Evidence of impact of library work
The Future of Reading, A Public Value Project, Creative Research, ACE,
2009
A National Library Development Programme for Reading Groups, The
Reading Agency, 2005
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The effectiveness of bibliotherapy in increasing the self-management ability
of slightly to moderately frail older people, Patient Education and
Counselling 61 (2006) , Frieswijk, D.
Capturing the Impact of Libraries, BOP Consulting for DCMS, 2009
The State of Happiness Report: can public policy shape people’s
wellbeing and resilience? Young Foundation and IDeA, 2010
Literacy Changes Lives, National Literacy Trust, 2008
Public library activity in the areas of health and well-being, Hicks, D
Creaser, C Greenwood, H et al MLA 2010
Patterns of receptive and creative cultural activities and their
association with perceived health, anxiety, depression and satisfaction
with life among adults: the Hunt Study, Norway, Journal of Epidemiology
and Community Health, May 2011
The Leisure Role of Libraries: Users’ Views. Hayes and Morris Journal of
Library and Information Science 37 (3), 131 – 139
Partnerships for Patients Project Report, LISU, 2008
Liverpool Health Inequalities Research Institute, An investigation into the
therapeutic benefits of reading in relation to depression and well-being,
The Reader Organisation, 2010
Read Yourself Well. Nother, Maria. Public Libraries Journal vol 26, no 1 pp
20-21 Spring 2011 ISSN 0268-893X
Get into Reading as an intervention for common mental health
problems: exploring catalysts for change. Dowrick, C, Billington J,
Robinson J et al. Med Humanities published online February 18 2012,
doi: 10.1136/medhum-2011-010083
Contributing to health and well-being: reading remedies. Hicks, D,
Brumwell, J. and Hodgkins, L. Library and Information Update pp 38-41,
August 2010 ISSN 1476-7171
Arts, Health and Wellbeing Evaluation Development. Final report
summary Derbyshire Arts Partnership 2010
Value and impact of Reading Imaginative Literature, Usherwood, B.
Toyne, J. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, March 2002,
Vol 34, no 1 pp33 – 41
Play it by ear. Reading Groups for VIPs. Hyder, E. Public Library Journal
Vol 23 no 2 Summer 2008 pp16 – 18
Evidence Review of BOP and Creative Bibliotherapy Projects in
Libraries, Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 2008, (15),
24-36
A reading revolution on the Wirral. Davis, J, Tomkins, J., Roberts, S.
Public Library Journal Autumn 2008 pp 25 – 28
Cultural attendance and public mental health – from research to
practice. O’Neill, M. Journal of Public Mental Health vol 9, issue 4 2010 pp
22-29
Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly, New England
Journal of Medicine, 2003, 384:2508-2516
Bibliotherapy as a Means of Delivering Psychological Therapy, Neil
Frude, Clinical Psychology (39), 8-10, 2004
Chatterbooks evaluation reports, Reading Agency 2008+9
Literacy Changes Lives, NLT, 2008
Bookstart Theoretical Framework – provides evidence to demonstrate the
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benefits of sharing, books, stories and rhymes for children. Booktrust
Reading the Situation: Book reading, buying and borrowing habits in
Britain. Book Marketing League/TRA 2000 LISC Research report 34 ISBN
1873517769
Mindlab Report, Dr David Lewis, Mindlab International, University of Sussex
2009
Outcomes – Stronger and safer communities, including community
participation
Outcomes – Stronger and safer communities, including community
participation
Evidence of reading’s impact
Evidence of impact of library work
Literacy Changes Lives, NLT, 2008
Summer Reading Challenge Volunteering Report, Reading Agency
Paper vs Electronic, The Green Reading Debate at www.justmeans.com
Volunteering in libraries data in CIPFA Public Library Statistics, 2009-10
Actuals, 2011
Relevant repositories of public knowledge? Perceptions of libraries,
archives and museums in modern Britain. Usherwood, B Wilson, K and
Bryson, J BL Research and Development Dept, University of Sheffield 2006
Realising the potential of cultural services – the case for libraries. F
Coalter LGA 2001 Research briefing 12.1 p8
CIPFA Statistics 2010-11 estimates
Multiple community use/ recycling of library books
Greening Interlibrary Loan Practices at www.oclc.org
The Green Library Movement: An Overview and Beyond at Electronic
Green Journal, 1 (27) at http:/escholarship.org/uk/item/39d3v2
www.greenlibraries.org
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What the Public Want from Public Libraries? MLA, 2010
Reading Groups in Libraries Mapping Survey Findings, The Reading
Agency, 2008
Impact evaluation of Museums, Libraries and Archives: available
evidence project. Wavell, C, Gaxter, G, Johnson, I, Prof Williams, D.
Resource, 2002
Outcomes – Economic impact/value for money
Outcomes – Economic impact/value for money
Evidence of reading’s impact
Evidence of impact of library work
Bookstart: Investing in the future of all our children 2010
SRC £1 a child – six times cheaper than authorities doing it on their own. Value of partners’
investment
Bookstart 2009/10: A Social Return on Investment analysis. Just
Economics 2010 for Booktrust.
What do the public want from libraries? User and non-user research MLA/Ipsos
MORI/Shared Intelligence 2010
New directions in social policy: developing the evidence base for museums, libraries and
archives in England, BOP Consulting for MLA 2005
Paying the Price: the cost of mental health care in England to 2006.
McCrone P, Dhanasiri S, Patel A, et al Kings Fund 2008
Public libraries in the knowledge economy. Clayton, N Hepworth, M 2006 MLA
Bolton’s Museums, Libraries and Archives Services: an economic valuation, Jura
Consultants for MLA 2005
Long-term conditions and mental health. The cost of co-morbidities. Naylor C, Parsonage
M, McDaid, D et al. The Kings Fund and Centre for Mental Health February 2012
LH revised 15.3.12
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Health Evidence and Advocacy Strategy
Sample health advocacy messages drawn from shared national evidence base.
Reading improves health and wellbeing
• Reading is stress busting. Research shows that reading can reduce stress levels by 67 %
(University of Sussex)
• An ageing population means levels of dementia are predicted to rise by 61 % by 2026
(Kings Fund). Reading can help prevent the onset of dementia by 35% (New Eng. Jnl
Medicine)
• Bibliotherapy increases the self-management ability, mental agility and health literacy of
older people (Patient Education and Counselling, 61)
• Books on Prescription is an effective tool for delivering psychological therapy (Clinical
Psychology, 39)
• Social activities based on reading (reading groups/ author events) combat isolation and
bring people together
Libraries have a key role to play
• Libraries offer important health and well-being services to the public and health
partners: health information, therapeutic reading and social/recreational reading
activities. ( Public Library Health Mapping Research)
• There are at least 10,000 library linked reading groups (TRA Mapping Data)
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