Critical factors for school and community (joint use) libraries in New Zealand

Abstract

Joint use libraries in New Zealand are generally found in the form of School and Community Libraries, primarily in rural areas. Very little information is available about their effectiveness or the success of this form of library service delivery in New Zealand. Research was undertaken by surveying all joint use libraries in New Zealand and then following this with detailed Case Studies of three selected libraries. As these joint use libraries continue to be established in rural and urban areas of New Zealand, this research aimed to establish the Critical Success Factors for School and Community (Joint Use) Libraries in New Zealand. A comparison of these factors with those found in overseas literature has yielded guidelines to enable present and future manifestations of these libraries to successfully provide the same excellent level of library service we have come to expect from our large urban libraries.