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I have a seven-year-old niece who lives in California. I don’t get to see her as often as I would like, but wanted to create some memories with her all the same, so this past year we started reading books together over FaceTime. Sometimes she picks out a book to read to me, sometimes I pick a book to read to her. While it is not the same as being with her in person, we enjoy the interaction and, I suspect, her parents enjoy the brief respite. A side benefit is that I get to share my love of books with her.

For me, books have always been my go-to for escape, education, entertainment, and understanding. Through books I have traveled places I will never physically go, and lived lives I will never (and sometimes wouldn’t want to) live. Books have given me hope in times of stress, grief and fear. In short, for me they have been advisors, confidants, comforters and entertainers for the 50+ years I have been on this earth. And I want that for my niece as well. As a bonus, when books are read to children, from the earliest ages, amazing things happen. Reading to a child builds brain function, creates bonds, grows vocabulary, grows empathy and imagination, strengthens attention spans and reduces stress. I think all these benefits are true for adults as well.

This may be why the New York Public Library recently joined with a team from the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center to do a report based on a year-long effort that looked at how libraries positively impact “individual well-being and collective flourishing.” The question they wanted to answer was this: Are libraries the key to living your best life? What they learned is that patrons overwhelmingly report the library having a positive effect on their lives. Respondents to their survey described the library as a stable, reliable presence, a place where they felt safe.

They also reported improvement in their professional, academic and personal lives. Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said the library impacted how positively they feel about themselves and how equipped they feel to cope with the world.

The idea that libraries foster well-being isn’t a surprise to me. Those of us who work in libraries see this outcome daily. This research, however, helps quantify the position that libraries are an essential part of a thriving community.

So as you begin this new year, if you’ve been contemplating resolutions that include limiting sweets or drinking more water to improve your life, consider adding going to the library and reading to a little person to your list of “to-dos.” You may be pleasantly surprised at the results.

Rich, Hallie. “Are libraries the key to living your best life?” Library Journal. January, 2025:5.