Is isolation a problem? : unlocking the issues faced by rural libraries and rural library staff in South Australia

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the current issues faced by public library staff in rural South Australia and some of the reasons why people chose to work in rural libraries. The study took a mixed methods approach, combining interviews and questionnaires to gain a fuller understanding of the issues and experiences of rural librarians. Four interviews took place from which two questionnaires, a staff and managers, was developed. These questionnaires were then sent to 41 rural libraries in South Australia. The findings of the study show that rural library staff in South Australia are a dedicated group of individuals who are motivated by their personal interactions with their communities. It also found that the constraints brought on by geographic isolation such as distance and time were a concern of many staff.