6. Literature Review: Museums, Libraries and Archives Summary of Social Impacts of Museums, Libraries and Archives For social capital, education and wellbeing impacts, the Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) literature is more aspirational than evidential, with many references identifying the sector's potential for social impacts, and case study professionals' perceptions of such impacts, but few providing empirical analysis of the sector's contribution to social impacts. When evidence is presented, it is typically in the form of qualitative research from case studies, from which generalisation is problematic. The most obvious way in which MLA promotes social capital is through the use of volunteers. Other elements of social capital are less evident in the literature reviewed, including social inclusion where the contribution of MLA is mixed, with a potential to engage with social inclusion issues, but also some exclusionary perceptions of MLA. Volunteers are the most tangible manifestation of social capital in museums and galleries. Evidence on the effects of MLA on education impacts from the systematic review can only be described as weak and with mixed results. The literature on the relationship between MLA and wellbeing revealed by the systematic review is confined to one advocacy study for museums, and two positive studies of a particular form of therapy using books and poetry - bibliotherapy. The systematic literature review disclosed no publications for review on the effects of MLA on health or 6.1 Museums, Libraries and Archives and wellbeing The systematic review identified only three studies of the relationship between MLA and wellbeing, including: G 1 programme evaluation I 2 narrative reviews The position of these in the hierarchy of evidence (see Table 2.1) is indicated on the left hand side of the list above. The studies of MLA and wellbeing are summarised in Table A10.1 in Appendix 10. Two studies to library and bibliotherapy, and one relates to museums and happiness.
6. Literature Review: Museums, Libraries and Archives Summary of Social Impacts of Museums, Libraries and Archives For social capital, education and wellbeing impacts, the Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) literature is more aspirational than evidential, with many references identifying the sector's potential for social impacts, and case study professionals' perceptions of such impacts, but few providing empirical analysis of the sector's contribution to social impacts. When evidence is presented, it is typically in the form of qualitative research from case studies, from which generalisation is problematic. The most obvious way in which MLA promotes social capital is through the use of volunteers. Other elements of social capital are less evident in the literature reviewed, including social inclusion where the contribution of MLA is mixed, with a potential to engage with social inclusion issues, but also some exclusionary perceptions of MLA. Volunteers are the most tangible manifestation of social capital in museums and galleries. Evidence on the effects of MLA on education impacts from the systematic review can only be described as weak and with mixed results. The literature on the relationship between MLA and wellbeing revealed by the systematic review is confined to one advocacy study for museums, and two positive studies of a particular form of therapy using books and poetry - bibliotherapy. The systematic literature review disclosed no publications for review on the effects of MLA on health or 6.1 Museums, Libraries and Archives and wellbeing The systematic review identified only three studies of the relationship between MLA and wellbeing, including: G 1 programme evaluation I 2 narrative reviews The position of these in the hierarchy of evidence (see Table 2.1) is indicated on the left hand side of the list above. The studies of MLA and wellbeing are summarised in Table A10.1 in Appendix 10. Two studies to library and bibliotherapy, and one relates to museums and happiness.
A_review_of_the_Social_Impacts_of_Culture_and_Sport.docx