Student perceptions of primary school library support: Investigating reading, research, and technology use

School libraries are undergoing a monumental shift as they adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of students. This study investigated student perceptions of their school library, focussing on its role in supporting reading, research, and technology use. An explanatory mixed methods design was employed, involving a survey of students from a primary school in South East Queensland, followed by three semi-structured focus group interviews. While all participating students felt supported by their library to read and access books, they reported receiving less help with finding information to support schoolwork and using computers, a shift from earlier findings. The focus group interviews highlighted the importance placed by students on a quality book selection and the library’s role in facilitating learning of new technologies. The lack of a dedicated teacher librarian emerged as a pivotal factor influencing students’ perceptions of the school library. The findings contribute to existing literature, with insights for improving the functionality and perception of school libraries.