School and Public Libraries in Australia: Essential Connections, Then and Now

School and public libraries share common goals in serving young community members, but research is sparse investigating how (and if) they work together and their understandings around the roles of the other. This study replicated elements of a 2002 study by Alan Bundy examining current collaborations between Australian schools and public libraries, how these interactions have changed over the last five years and perceptions around collaboration. Two anonymous surveys were disseminated via list servs, email lists and newsletters for professional organisations related to libraries in Australia, with one focused on staff in public libraries and the other for staff in school libraries. Findings from the current study were then compared with Bundy's. Positive examples of collaboration persist, including sharing resources, promoting events and programming. Although respondents from both public and school libraries reported a decline in interaction between school and public libraries between the two surveys, school library respondents indicated increased awareness of the public library sector and greater personal use of public library services. Barriers to interaction included time, and school library respondents seeing no need for interaction with public libraries. Nonetheless, free text responses show promise for the development of these connections supporting young people and communities.