This paper summarises the information derived from the 2011 Softlink Australian School Library Survey and explores the relationships between budgets, staffing and student literacy levels in school libraries.

Principle findings from the 2011 Softlink Australian School Library Survey include:

• Where student numbers are the same, it is shown that primary school libraries receive significantly less funding and staff allocation to the library than secondary schools.
• Four out of five school libraries have experienced a budget decrease, or no change, compared to the previous year.
• One in six schools from total number of respondents to the survey has decreased their school library budget by more than 10% in the last 12 months.
• Larger Government schools have significantly less staff allocated to the school library, compared to larger Catholic and Independent schools.
• There is a significant positive relationship between a school’s NAPLAN reading literacy score, the budget and staffing allocated to the school library.
• The difference in funding and literacy outcomes can be quantified. In general, low performing schools allocate 30% less to the school library budget than average schools. High performing schools allocate an average of twice as much to the school library budget as average schools.

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