Introduction

Library partnerships exist in many forms: formal and informal; short-term or longer lasting; internal or external to the organisation that a library sits within; or sharing premises. Combined use, co-located libraries have existed for more than a century, most often in small rural communities where it is economically efficient to combine a school library with the sole public library. The exact number worldwide is unknown, but there are at least 67 in the USA, 200 in Canada and 100 in Australia (Casstevens, 2017). A good overview of the history, models and benefits of joint libraries can be found in McNicol's comprehensive book (McNicol, 2008). However, in this chapter, we are reflecting on a less common model of joint-use library, that of a collaboration between a university and public library resulting in a fully integrated service. Alongside the core partnership, we have also developed a range of other working relationships in order to extend the service offer within a challenging current operating environment.

The Hive

The Hive is the result of a formal partnership between the University of Worcester (UW) and Worcestershire County Council (WCC) in the United Kingdom. Opening in 2012 after nearly 10 years of planning, the original aim was to provide a joint academic and public library for the whole community that would offer shared services and space, including seamless access to the organisations’ combined physical collections via a merged catalogue and shared access to some digital resources. By the time of opening, the building also included the Worcestershire Archives and Archaeology service, with their 26,000 records of historic buildings and monuments and 12 miles (19km) of county archives, a Council Customer Service Hub and a café

Today, The Hive remains unique within Europe, welcoming over 700,000 visitors a year to enjoy the facilities, services and vibrant events programme. It's the proud winner of many awards, including the Guardian University Award for Contribution to the Community (2013), The Times Higher Education Awards for Outstanding Library Team (2013) and The SCONUL Library Design Award (2016).