… to growing the economy for people and planet

Q – How can we grow our economy in ways that work for people and planet?

A – For every £1 invested in libraries, Scotland receives a return of between £6.95 and £7.96 in ‘social value’: a blend of societal and environmental benefits that includes reduced social isolation, increased attainment and employment prospects, and better physical and mental wellbeing. By contrast, for every £1 invested in banking, £7 in social value is lost. Evidence also suggests that a branch library typically provides £1 million in value for its local area every year. When times are tough, communities cannot afford to be without their libraries.