Other research reports
Regional Library Models Project
In 2015 the State Library of NSW engaged the Centre for Local Government (CLG) at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) to undertake research to explore and recommend regional management models for NSW public libraries.
The project included a literature review, stakeholder interviews, case studies and the development of a guide to regional library management models in NSW.
- Project resources
Public libraries in NSW are managed by local councils in accordance with the Library Act 1939, with assistance from the State Government though the State Library. A significant number of councils are party to regional library agreements which are enabled by s12 of the Act. This means that one council provides library services (or an aspect of library services) to neighbouring councils. Councils that are not party to regional library arrangements run their own public libraries, but often cooperate with neighbouring council libraries to some extent. In 2011 the Act was amended to add s12A which enables councils to propose alternate models for regional cooperation on libraries.
Project resources
The Regional library models summary report outlines the project methods, survey and case studies:
The Collaborative library service delivery guide provides local governments and library managers with a framework for considering possibilities for current and future library service delivery.
Mobile libraries and outreach services
In 2014 the State Library of NSW commissioned a project to explore the mobile and outreach services offered by NSW public libraries. The report Mobile & Outreach Services, NSW public libraries: Practice, standards and guidelines identifies the range and scope of NSW public library mobile and outreach service models; explores the strengths, weaknesses, benefits and opportunities of different outreach models and provides good practice guidelines for outreach service models in NSW public libraries.