Be Part of the Conversation: Tell us What Your Library Means to You

National survey measures social impact of public libraries within local communities

Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC) is leading a national survey to better understand the role of libraries in their communities and the impact and value of libraries for the entire country. Halifax Public Libraries is proud to participate and your feedback can help make libraries even better for all Canadians.

More than 20 urban libraries are coming together in a new study to understand and improve the ways in which we support our communities. This study is the first of its kind being conducted at a national scale.

The social impact study moves beyond traditional economic reporting metrics such as the number of visits or books borrowed, focusing instead on capturing how public libraries provide emotional, intellectual, creative, and social value. The results of the study will support national and regional conversations about the importance of public libraries to local communities and to Canada as a whole.  

The survey takes between 10-15 minutes and covers many parts of library service. You can complete the survey at this link: https://culc.itdepends.dk/Halifax, opens a new window

The 23 partner libraries include:

  • Bibliothèques Montréal
  • Burlington Public Library
  • Calgary Public Library
  • Edmonton Public Library
  • Halifax Public Libraries
  • Hamilton Public Library
  • Kingston Frontenac Public Library
  • Kitchener Public Library
  • Lethbridge Public Library
  • London Public Library
  • Mississauga Library System
  • Oshawa Public Libraries
  • Ottawa Public Library
  • Red Deer Public Library
  • Regina Public Library
  • Saskatoon Public Library
  • Surrey Libraries
  • Vancouver Island Regional Library
  • Vancouver Public Library
  • Vaughan Public Libraries
  • Waterloo Public Library
  • Whitby Public Library
  • Winnipeg Public Library

The survey portion of the study will launch in May 2025 and is expected to conclude by July 2025. National results will be available in 2026. 

The national initiative is led by CULC, and the study is carried out by the research consortium IS IT A BIRD / It depends.