Annual Softlink School Library Surveys

School libraries are thriving centres of learning both in the physical library space and in the virtual classroom, and school library staff enrich school teaching and learning programs through their specialist role.  

In 2010, the Australian Federal Government requested submissions to the ‘Inquiry into school libraries and Teacher Librarians in Australian schools'. Softlink undertook a survey of Australian school libraries to provide data that enabled a unique and informed response to the Inquiry.  

Softlink has continued to survey Australian schools annually and in 2015 extended this to include New Zealand and UK schools. The annual surveys continue to build an accurate reference point for understanding changes, impacts, and trends over time.

We have produced a number of reports and feature documents from the School Library Survey, available by visiting softlinkint.com/resources/reports-and-whitepapers/

For a list of what’s available, please see below.  

Reports

Annual report
  • 2021 Australian School Library Survey Report
  • 2021 New Zealand School Library Survey Report
  • 2020 Australian School Library Survey Report
  • 2020 New Zealand School Library Survey Report
  • 2020 United Kingdom School Library Survey Report
  • 2019 Australia, New Zealand, and Asia Pacific School Library Survey Report
  • 2019 Europe, Middle East, and Africa School Library Survey Report
  • 2018 Australia, New Zealand, and Asia Pacific School Library Survey Report
  • 2018 Softlink UK and Europe School Library Survey Report
  • 2017 UK School Library Survey Report
  • 2017 Australian and New Zealand School Library Survey Report
  • 2016 Australian and New Zealand School Library Survey Report
  • 2016 UK School Library Survey Report

Click here to download the School Library Survey Reports

Feature documents and articles

Feature articles
  • New Zealand school libraries share: The best thing about working in a school library (2022)
  • UK school libraries share: What I would change (2021)
  • UK school libraries share: The best thing about working in a school library (2021)
  • What the School Library Survey has taught me
  • School libraries share: What I would change (2021)
  • School library leaders, advocates, and influencers (2021)
  • School libraries share: Library love (2021)
  • From the Principal’s desk: Reflections on the school library (2021)
  • Impact of COVID-19 on school libraries in the UK (2021)
  • What’s trending #SchoolLibraries 2019-2020 (2020)
  • School library funding, staffing, and resourcing – a 10-year review (2020)
  • School library staff – meeting the challenges of a changing world (2020)
  • 7 Challenges for schools – revisited (2019)
  • School libraries share: Ideas for promoting the library (2019)
  • School libraries share: Our wish list for the future (2018)
  • School libraries share: Ideas for collaboration (2018)
  • School libraries share: Innovative ideas (2017)
  • The ongoing importance of school libraries (2017)
  • Softlink Australian School Library Survey: A five-year review (2016)
  • 5 Most important opportunities for school libraries (2015)
  • The top 7 challenges for school libraries (2015)

To download our School Library Survey feature articles, click here

Softlink is proud to continue to sponsor and grow this initiative. We are always looking for ways to improve and refine the School Library Survey and associated reports and whitepapers. If you would like to offer feedback, please email communications@softlinkint.com