A joint-use academic/public library has been established by the University of Southern Queensland (Australia), in a partnership with the Hervey Bay City Council, to fulfill the school's commitment to bringing tertiary education to the region. This report examines this unique relationship (one of only three like it in the world) from its development and funding to the lessons learned from the experience. Described are the university's role in the surrounding community as a regional institution for higher education, the physical and intellectual accesses to electronic resources, the impact of information technology and communications on building design and facility management, and the benefits derived from its development. Final sections examine the Hervey Bay Library model as a guide for developing similar ventures. (Contains 26 references.) (GR)