Making Connections: Challenges and Benefits of Joint Use Libraries as Seen in One Community

Abstract

This paper explores research relating to the challenges and benefits of joint use libraries and places these issues in the context of one community's joint use library. In 2002, the Julia Hull District Library, located in rural Stillman Valley, Illinois, USA, entered into a contractual agreement with the village School District to move the library from a small family home, to a new facility which was built on to the Village high school. Originally, the partnership, as is common with joint library endeavors, was created for economic reasons: the school and library districts would share costs, materials, and resources for the benefit of local taxpayers to accommodate student and public patrons. While new opportunities to connect student and public library users through library programs and services have arisen, since the merger, the community has realized additional benefits and challenges foreshadowed by prior international research.