Public Library Investments and Adult Mortality

• In Event: 40821 - Community and Urban Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 11. Place and Wellbeing

Abstract

The 15,000 public libraries across the United States are important community institutions that provide access to books and materials, social and community groups, computers and internet, and technical and job skills training. However, limited research examines the effect of public library investments on adult health or well-being outcomes. In this project, we use data on capital investment shocks for the universe of U.S. public library systems to examine whether public library investments reduce adult mortality. Public library investments could reduce mortality by enhancing social and community connections, opportunities to improve skills and access to labor market opportunities, and temperature-controlled spaces to avoid extreme weather. We find evidence that capital investments reduce “deaths of despair” (alcohol , drug, and suicide causes), and that the effects persist for several years after the additional investment. We additionally examine whether the impact of public library investments is larger in rural communities, where mortality rates are higher, and where there are fewer alternative forms of social infrastructure. This project aims to make important contributions to research on social infrastructure and adult mortality and inform policy decisions on community investments and public health.

Authors

• Greer Mellon, Brown University

• Emily Rauscher, Brown University