2024 Edition
The first edition of Sentolib in 2024 was a great success, with more than 160,000 respondents sharing their views on the services and impact of libraries. More than 1,150 library locations across Europe participated in this large-scale study. The results provide libraries with valuable insights to optimise their services and to better respond to the needs of their visitors and various target groups.
Due to this great success, and at the explicit request of many libraries, it was decided to turn Sentolib into a permanent instrument, repeated on an annual basis. This gives participating libraries the opportunity not only to gain current insights, but also to track the development of their results and efforts over time. Libraries participating for the first time can use their results as a baseline measurement and immediately compare them (anonymously) with a cluster of similar libraries, as well as with national and European data.
The research results help libraries strengthen their position at the local, national, and European level. The collected data not only provide valuable insights into the needs and satisfaction of users and target groups, but also allow libraries to present their societal impact in a well-founded way. This supports them in clearly demonstrating their role and contribution in the fields of education, inclusion, and culture.
Moreover, the annual repetition of Sentolib offers libraries the opportunity to monitor trends and compare their own results — both within their institution and with other libraries across Europe. This makes Sentolib a powerful tool for libraries to strengthen their relevance in political discussions and advocacy, both locally and nationally, as well as at the European level, and to reinforce their role within the cultural and public sector.
Francis De Bonnaire from Sentolib presented some interesting findings from the 2024 edition of the Sentolib study at the 33rd EBLIDA Council and Annual Conference (EBLIDA 2025).
As Senior Researcher and Co-Coordinator of this European library study, he also shared insights from his extensive experience with audience research in the cultural sector. His approach aims to make such studies accessible to cultural institutions of all sizes.
Deutschsprachige Webinar Sentobib
Results of the Sentolib Study
What Dormagen residents think of the Dormagen City Library
The city library received outstanding ratings in an international study. In particular, the study captured the importance of the library for the citizens of Dormagen. What the library now hopes to take away from these findings.
Results of the Sentolib Study
The Sentolib survey results have been analysed!
https://bib.neufahrn.de/aktuelles/umfrage/
Thanks to the collective efforts of all participating libraries and their respondents, Sentolib Edition 24 has helped protect 164,271 m² of endangered habitats and their flora and fauna through the World Land Trust. 🌿🐾
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed! 💚
Pilot Study
Before launching the 2024 edition of this European study, a successful pilot study was first conducted in Belgium, in collaboration with the library association VVBAD, cult!, OP/TIL, and the University of Antwerp.
This pilot study was carried out in 150 libraries. The participating libraries reflected the diversity of the library landscape, including both small and large institutions and various types of libraries. The results showed that library users were very satisfied with their libraries and their library visits. It also demonstrated that local libraries play a strong societal role and have a positive impact on the development and well-being of their users.
The study concluded with a study day for all participating libraries.
“This survey provides libraries with a fantastic opportunity to get to know their users more closely in a simple way and to involve them in library work. The pilot study gave us detailed feedback about the library and its visitors, which proved very useful in our daily operations. The comparison with other libraries was extremely interesting.
The study also revealed the importance and the highly positive impact of our library on the well-being of our visitors. This research is therefore a welcome tool for us to support conversations with our stakeholders with concrete numbers.”
Viviane Dierickx, librarian at the Genk Library.
After the completion of this successful pilot study, a study day was organised for the participating libraries.
The study day included a detailed presentation of the results, along with practical guidelines and tips on how to use the individual research report. The day concluded with an engaging panel discussion.
Prof. Dr. Annick Schramme
The enthusiastic responses during the study day showed that the study provided clear added value for the participating libraries.
It became evident that having structured and evidence-based data about their own library and its users. Being able to compare it anonymously with similar libraries was of great importance to them.