Merton Libraries is a shining example of how libraries support people's needs around health and wellbeing, delivering physical activities and access to health monitoring equipment free of charge in all seven libraries across the borough.

Recovering from the pandemic

“After the pandemic, Merton Council provided funding to its library service to install dedicated health and wellbeing zones across its libraries, with access to free health technology and free fitness events and activities," Lisa Mustoe, Head of Merton Libraries, Community Hubs and Heritage told a delegation from the West Midlands EVOLS (Economic Value of Libraries) project when they visited Wimbledon Library in July 2025. 

Lisa had been instrumental in taking the funding given to the libraries during the early stages of the borough wide project, finding partners and community groups willing to continue the initial push to improve health outcomes for library users. 

Forging health partnerships

A fortunate connection with Nuffield Health proved a major bonus for this ambition. Nuffield Health, a national provider of health activities through gyms and in community settings, has a charity arm that aims to engage and deliver benefit to communities. It saw Merton libraries’ ambition and ability to connect with communities of need through their network of seven libraries as an opportunity to deliver on its own ambitions.

Merton Libraries had already invested in compact equipment such as specialist health monitors to measure weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and blood pressure in every library and were able to provide public health colleagues and local GP surgeries with data which could be used to identify health needs. They could then plan to meet those needs with activities in the library. This was exactly what was done in one part of the borough where blood pressure results were found to be high. As a result, yoga and other activities were prioritized at that library. A gentleman using the blood pressure monitor machine at Mitcham Library was shocked when it identified he was in the early stages of a heart attack and that he should seek immediate medical help. This is truly a case to support the claim that ‘Libraries Change Lives’!

Collecting the data

Lisa impressed the visitors with a full range of data and quotes to show that Merton’s libraries are now a significant health provider in the borough. Merton has been zealous in its collection of feedback, including using ‘Bump pads’, touch screens at each Health Zone where library users can answer questions about their health and wellbeing. Answers are  anonymised and used to monitor and improve the libraries’ health offer.

The missing piece in the Merton Libraries' health and wellbeing jigsaw is the ability to turn this data into value figures.

This was the challenge left with the West Midlands EVOLS project team: to provide Merton with the means to demonstrate the impact, in monetary terms, that their customers clearly receive.

It takes the drive of Lisa and her team to refine and add to the Merton catalogue of health and wellbeing experiences, demonstrating in the process the enormous value of public libraries to the local community. 

Get in touch

For more information about Merton Libraries’ Health and Wellbeing offer please contact Lisa.Mustoe@merton.gov.uk

For information on the national Health and Wellbeing Universal Offer in Libraries please contact Sarah.Mears@Librariesconnected.gov.uk or see Universal Library Offers | Libraries Connected.