Aargau libraries participate in European social impact study

Public libraries in the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland, are participating in initiatives to evaluate their social value and evolving roles in the community. Sixteen institutions, including the Rheinfelden City Library, are taking part in Sentobib, a European-wide audience study.

Unlike traditional statistics that focus on loan numbers and visitor counts, the Sentobib study utilizes the Social Impact Compass to measure how libraries contribute to education, culture, social cohesion, and quality of life. The research aims to understand how visitors experience these spaces and their significance in daily life, gathering perspectives from both regular users and those who rarely visit.

In addition to the large-scale study, individual libraries are using localized surveys to drive improvements. Simone Huber, who manages the Meisterschwanden and Birrwil libraries, noted that such feedback helps address modern needs, such as digital media integration, expanded opening hours, and creating community meeting points through specialized events.