How and why public libraries collaborate?

Abstract

Public libraries form collaborations, though often in ways distinct from academic libraries, to address the needs of their users. This study explores how and why public libraries collaborate with the aim of conceptualizing the mechanisms and the dynamics of library cooperation in a coherent framework. The framework comprises three foundational pillars - the collaboration models, the joint services provided, the factors that initiate and sustain collaborative efforts - and their interrelations. An international study, with the participation of 16 experts holding prominent roles in their national public library systems, as well as international appointments, refined and validated this framework. The UK National Center for Social Research Framework for qualitative data analysis was applied. Key findings highlight that collaborations can be distinguished in three models: central, distributed, and mixed. The foundational condition that defines which model of collaboration the public libraries are more likely to follow is the way they are governed within a country, meaning the national public library system. Public libraries need similar collaborative services as academic libraries do, and their need is shaped by local and national contexts. The key factors required to initiate and sustain collaboration and collaborative services include among others, the audience needs, the leadership, the funding, and the library staff. The size, the administrative structure and the development level of the country were also identified as important factors. Building on these findings, the study proposes a decision-making tool, a four-centric circles framework to support public libraries in selecting the collaboration model that best matches their goals and resources. By foregrounding the public library context, the study shifts the discussion beyond the prevailing focus on academic libraries. Lastly, it consolidates practical experience into a coherent theoretical lens, by addressing the limited theorizing in library collaboration.