Transforming Communities by Generating Wellbeing at Christchurch City Libraries
Dawn McMillan, Team Leader at Tūranga, Ōtautahi Christchurch's central city library, spoke at the LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) conference 2025 about our joint project.
Here is her abstract of the presentation titled "Transforming Communities by Generating Wellbeing"
"In times of fiscal restraint, libraries are often perceived as a “nice to have”. Important to some, but not a significant contributor to the local economy. In mid 2024, Christchurch City Libraries partnered with QWB Lab on a pilot project focussing on its central library, Tūranga.
The project aimed to establish a methodology to measure the library’s wellbeing impact on its customers. The paper presents the results of this project.
The findings may surprise you, from the importance of space – both to connect with others and to be alone; the opportunity to see your culture reflected; to the attractions of a great cheese scone! This project revealed the transformational impact of the library and its ability to offset the negative effects of poor mental health. More than just a “nice to have”, the library’s impact on wellbeing, as well as the local economy, is significant and measurable."
Transforming Communities by Generating Wellbeing at Christchurch City Libraries
Dawn McMillan, Team Leader at Tūranga, Ōtautahi Christchurch's central city library, spoke at the LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) conference 2025 about our joint project.
Here is her abstract of the presentation titled "Transforming Communities by Generating Wellbeing"
"In times of fiscal restraint, libraries are often perceived as a “nice to have”. Important to some, but not a significant contributor to the local economy. In mid 2024, Christchurch City Libraries partnered with QWB Lab on a pilot project focussing on its central library, Tūranga.
The project aimed to establish a methodology to measure the library’s wellbeing impact on its customers. The paper presents the results of this project.
The findings may surprise you, from the importance of space – both to connect with others and to be alone; the opportunity to see your culture reflected; to the attractions of a great cheese scone! This project revealed the transformational impact of the library and its ability to offset the negative effects of poor mental health. More than just a “nice to have”, the library’s impact on wellbeing, as well as the local economy, is significant and measurable."
Transforming Communities by Generating Wellbeing at Christchurch City Libraries
Dawn McMillan, Team Leader at Tūranga, Ōtautahi Christchurch's central city library, spoke at the LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) conference 2025 about our joint project.
Here is her abstract of the presentation titled "Transforming Communities by Generating Wellbeing"
"In times of fiscal restraint, libraries are often perceived as a “nice to have”. Important to some, but not a significant contributor to the local economy. In mid 2024, Christchurch City Libraries partnered with QWB Lab on a pilot project focussing on its central library, Tūranga.
The project aimed to establish a methodology to measure the library’s wellbeing impact on its customers. The paper presents the results of this project.
The findings may surprise you, from the importance of space – both to connect with others and to be alone; the opportunity to see your culture reflected; to the attractions of a great cheese scone! This project revealed the transformational impact of the library and its ability to offset the negative effects of poor mental health. More than just a “nice to have”, the library’s impact on wellbeing, as well as the local economy, is significant and measurable."
