De openbare bibliotheek als sociale infrastructuur - een studie naar sociaal en institutioneel vertrouwen

This study examines the relationship between the distance to the nearest public library and both social and institutional trust in the Netherlands. The study draws on large-scale longitudinal survey data from the LISS-panel (N = 34,137) combined with spatial data from the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Results from mixed-effects models indicate a modest negative relationship between the distance to the nearest library and scores on both social trust (B = -0.053, p = .024) and institutional trust (B = -0.050, p = .007), particularly in urban areas. However, these associations disappear in fixed-effects models when time-invariant individual characteristics are controlled for, suggesting no causal link between library proximity and trust. In contrast, regular library use remains positively correlated with both social trust (B = 0.298, p <.001) and institutional trust (B = 0.437, p <.001) in both random- and fixed-effects analyses. These findings imply that while libraries can play a role in fostering trust as part of a broader social infrastructure, they cannot do so in isolation. This study highlights that trust appears to be a complex phenomenon shaped not only by local amenities but also by broader, stable background factors and societal dynamics.