Given Australia’s economic wealth, public libraries across all states and territories are woefully under-funded on a per-capita basis. While changes and improvements to ongoing government funding may take many years of concerted lobbying, library managers and local councils need to be aware of substantial funding opportunities that exist through innovative partnerships in their own localities.

Universities, local employers, professional sport teams and associations and registered clubs are just some of the organisations that are proven or potential partners for public libraries seeking to expand and improve their service offerings. This paper will provide a step-by-step “how to” for library managers and local councillors who are keen to explore their entrepreneurial sides and seek appropriate, viable, long-term financial partnerships to deliver improved community outcomes. It will also provide case studies of successful funding partnerships to demonstrate the viability of such strategies.

Some examples: Several public libraries in western Sydney are amongst the first in Australia to source significant funding through a partnership with a local university to support after school homework programs targeting high school students. Many more libraries across New South Wales have received support from licensed clubs to run a range of programs and services for community education needs. In Queensland large corporations are looking at state-wide partnerships with public libraries and the state library.

Executed appropriately, these partnerships expand the reach of public libraries while leveraging their unique position and stature within their communities as trusted sources of educational information and services.