‘Working Together’: Public Libraries Supporting Rural, Regional, and Remote Low-Socioeconomic Student Success in Partnership with Universities

Abstract

University students living in rural, regional, and remote (RRR) areas of Australia face unique challenges including geographical isolation, lack of access to face-to-face support, and technological barriers. Additionally, RRR students from lowsocioeconomic (low-SES) backgrounds experience multiple forms of disadvantage compared to their on-campus peers, and require additional study, learning, and social support. Partnerships between universities and local public libraries can enhance RRR low-SES student success through increased access to face-to-face support, reliable technologies, and study facilities. This exploratory research, led by five regional universities, presents the first national-level empirical data exploring how Australian public libraries and universities can work together to facilitate success for RRR low-SES students. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with public librarians from RRR low-SES communities across Australia. Thematic analysis findings explore themes of librarians' perceptions of students as persons; the role of regional librarians in supporting RRR low-SES students; RRR low-SES students' access to learning support; and the critical elements of sustainable partnerships between RRR public libraries and universities. Key recommendations are provided to guide future partnerships between public libraries and universities, including building the foundations of partnerships; professional development to support partnerships; and recommendations for good partnership practices.

Localised learning: mobilising belonging among mature-aged students in low socio-economic status regional and remote areas

“…Using schools as ‘community hubs’ has been suggested by Gore et al ( 2019 , p. 66), as it allows ‘community members to utilise internet access or videoconferencing facilities to complete courses via online mode with the support of peers’. Others have explored collaborations between universities and public libraries to support university students studying online in low SES, regional and remote areas (Power et al, 2019 ).…”

“…The difficulties of engaging in education in regional, rural, remote, and isolated areas have been well documented in Australia and internationally (Crawford, 2021 ; Currie et al, 2007 ; Halsey, 2018 ; Johns et al, 2016 ; Kenyon, 2011 ; Power et al, 2019 ; Regional Education Expert Advisory Group, 2019 ). Australia, with its low population density across large areas of the country, provides a notable case of the impact of ‘geographic dispersion’ (Bradley et al, 2008 , p. 111).…”

“…Local libraries, schools, and regional study hubs have the potential to provide study spaces and student support outside of the institution in which students are enrolled. For instance, public libraries provide non-intimidating spaces where university students, studying online in regional and remote areas, can study and access the internet and computers, as well as receive support from librarians (Behr & LaDell-Thomas, 2014 ; Howlett et al, 2017 ; Power et al, 2019 ).…”

Narratives of Access: A Critical Exploration of How Institutional Interactions with Students Affect Regional Student Participation in Higher Education

“…Such a thematic portrait aims to provide a base for comparing and contrasting the different ways in which university staff understood the study and learning needs of low-SES regional students as well as their role in providing support and advice. It is noted that the same analysis approach was applied in the analysis of the data related to the public library staff (Power et al, 2019) and low SES regional students within the broader project.…”