Libraries are more than just books

A  whopping 92 percent of library patrons leave libraries feeling calm and peaceful, according to a new study organized by New York Public Library along with the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center. That finding is just one of many takeaways from the study, which surveyed 2,400 New York Public Library patrons in 2023. The study also found that libraries contribute to patrons’ love of learning, assist their personal growth, and make them feel equipped for life’s challenges.

While many non-users may be surprised by these findings,
it seems like common sense to the people who work in public
libraries.

“Personally, I think when you leave the library with a pile of books and know that the next 30 hours of your life will be spent relaxing in a big chair, of course you’re going to feel calm and peaceful,” says Evan Barta, Deputy Director at Warwick Public Library.

“We help people with all sorts of technical problems,” said Jon Anderson, director of the Marian J. Mohr Library in Johnston. “So I wouldn’t be surprised if they felt calmer when they leave.
I also think reading is just a very healthy thing to do. Television and social media can just make you feel more aggravated. Any time you give people a chance to read, it activates their minds and makes them more curious. Reading is a healthier way to use
your mind.”

“We offer a place where everyone is included and treated equally with respect,” says Ed Garcia, Director of Cranston Public Library. “Our staff is dedicated to helping everyone with empathy and compassion.”

EveryLibrary, a national organization dedicated to promoting libraries, released a statement in conjunction with the release of the study. “The [New York Public Library] report makes a compelling case that public libraries should be recognized as essential pillars of well-being. The research suggests that libraries don’t just serve individuals; they strengthen entire communities.”

EveryLibrary describes itself as “the first and only national organization dedicated to building voter support for libraries,” and their main goal “is to support local public libraries when they have a referendum or measure on the ballot,” according to its website.

EveryLibrary is also the subject of this year’s Bateman Case Study Competition, organized by the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Across the country, “Bateman teams” are made up of college students pursuing PR careers. In Rhode Island, Roger Williams University has a PRSSA chapter, and students from the university are currently working to promote the work of EveryLibrary.

“A lot of people who use the library already know the benefits of using the library,” said Claire Kelley, a junior at Roger Williams and member of the university’s Bateman team.

“We’re really honing in on how we can target Gen Z,” says senior Madison Jones, who is also taking part in the competition. “We are using Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to get the message out.”

The students are working with libraries around the region, from Block Island to Swansea to all three cities and towns on Aquidneck Island. “Libraries are really the living rooms of communities,” said Alexandra Cos, a senior who is also part of the Bateman team. “They are for everyone, no matter what.”

The students’ feelings are mirrored by those of local librarians.

“Our regular patrons know the services we provide,” said Barta. “But when we get new people or people that are coming back for the first time in a while, they’re often surprised because they think they’re going to have to pay something. There’s a lot of joy from realizing that transactions can exist where you don’t have to buy a coffee or buy a sandwich to use the WiFi.”

“If you want to learn something, you don’t have to enroll in a course that costs thousands of dollars,” he says. “You can just come to the library and try it out for free.”

The study also found that lower income people see the most benefits from using the public library.

“There is something for everyone at the library,” said Garcia. “Whether you are checking out something to read or view, using our free public computers or free Wi-Fi, attending a class, a program, viewing an art exhibit or just coming into the building to be around other people and have a sense of community. The library is here for all.”

“Keeping a child entertained is an expensive proposition,” Barta said. “It makes sense that we add value by providing free services.”

Aside from books and movies, local libraries also have other benefits for card holders, numbers for which vary by municipality. Forty-one percent of Cranston residents hold library cards, while in Warwick it’s 37 percent (the state average). It is much lower in Johnston at 19 percent.

In 2024 there were 47,019 books checked out at Marian J. Mohr Library, the lone public library in Johnston. Warwick and Cranston saw numbers of 308,522 and 352,346 respectively between all their branches.

Program attendance is also important to note, and the three library systems between them had nearly 3,000 youth and adult programs last year, with attendance numbers ranging from 3,920 in Johnston to 25,763 in Warwick. Cranston was close behind with 25,241.

The Johnston library has just started promoting writers groups for adults, and is actively recruiting for the library’s Friends group. In Warwick, Barta provides free notary services, and the library also loans out a wide variety of items ranging from a wet vac and an air fryer to bocce sets and a portable turntable.