Outsourcing : cause and effect in New Zealand public libraries

Abstract

Outsourcing is now an accepted strategic tool of the library world and internationally public libraries have seen significant financial benefit from the outsourcing of library services. This qualitative research project into the partial outsourcing of library services by public libraries within New Zealand recorded the impressions of New Zealand public library managers in relation to their motivations for the partial outsourcing of library services within their library system, and what they perceive to be the true impact of this outsourcing. Clear themes emerged from discussions with library managers, motivations for this partial outsourcing by public libraries were typically financial in nature and, impacts experienced were on the whole positive. Outsourcing by New Zealand public libraries has been undertaken in a different way that typically described internationally and therefore the impacts experienced were quite different.