Association of Rural & Small Libraries
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| Association of Rural & Small Libraries | |
|---|---|
| Name | Association of Rural & Small Libraries |
| Formation | 1980 |
| Type | Nonprofit professional association |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Region served | Rural areas and small communities |
| Membership | Librarians, trustees, library staff |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
Association of Rural & Small Libraries is a nonprofit professional association serving librarians, trustees, and staff in rural communities and small towns across the United States. The organization provides professional development, advocacy, grants, and networking to support library services in remote and low-population areas. It collaborates with national, state, and regional institutions to address challenges unique to small and rural library environments.
History
The organization emerged during a period of expansion in American library associations linked to movements led by American Library Association, Public Library Association, Association for Library Service to Children, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, and state library agencies. Influences included federal initiatives such as the Library Services and Construction Act and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and regional efforts like the Mountain Plains Library Association and Association of College and Research Libraries. Early founders drew on precedents from the Carnegie Corporation of New York library philanthropy, the rural outreach models promoted by the Library of Congress, and community models associated with the Works Progress Administration. Over time, key milestones paralleled trends involving the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and collaborations with state-level entities including California State Library, New York State Library, and Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Mission and Programs
The association's mission aligns with professional standards advanced by American Library Association divisions and specialty groups such as Public Library Association, Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, and Reference and User Services Association. Programs emphasize technology access inspired by initiatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and digital literacy frameworks linked to the National Digital Library Program. Service models incorporate outreach strategies from the Rural Electrification Administration historical analogs and contemporary partnerships resembling work by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Core programs include continuing education, small-library administration, collection development guided by standards from Library Journal and the School Library Journal, and resource-sharing consistent with consortia like OCLC and Statewide Library Systems.
Membership and Governance
Membership draws librarians, trustees, and volunteers from municipal and county systems, tribal libraries such as those under the National Congress of American Indians, and independent community libraries. Governance structures reflect nonprofit norms observed in organizations like Association of Research Libraries, Special Libraries Association, and Young Adult Library Services Association with boards and committees modeled on practices from the American Society of Association Executives. Funding streams historically include grants and partnerships with entities like National Endowment for the Arts, state library agencies, and private foundations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The board has included leaders with affiliations to institutions such as University of Washington, University of Michigan, and Syracuse University library schools.
Conferences and Professional Development
Annual conferences bring together practitioners, speakers, and exhibitors paralleling events organized by American Library Association and Public Library Association. Program topics often reference digital initiatives like the Digital Public Library of America, preservation practices influenced by the National Archives, and literacy campaigns comparable to efforts by Reading Is Fundamental and LibriVox. Workshops cover disaster planning informed by case studies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, grantwriting modeled on National Science Foundation proposals, and community engagement strategies seen in projects from the Knight Foundation. Regional institutes collaborate with state associations such as the Minnesota Library Association and the Georgia Library Association.
Advocacy and Partnerships
Advocacy priorities align with legislative and policy efforts involving the Institute of Museum and Library Services, federal funding campaigns similar to those led by American Library Association, and broadband access initiatives tied to the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Partnerships extend to national organizations including Public Library Association, Association for Library Service to Children, LibraryLinkNJ, Chicago Public Library Foundation, and educational institutions like Columbia University and University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign. The association leverages relationships with philanthropic organizations such as the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to secure support for rural literacy and infrastructure projects.
Awards and Publications
The association administers awards and recognitions modeled after programs from American Library Association divisions, honoring excellence in service, innovation, and community impact similar to accolades from Library Journal and the ALA Youth Media Awards. Its publications include newsletters, toolkits, and peer-reviewed content that reference cataloging and metadata standards from Library of Congress, interoperability practices linked to OCLC, and readership studies comparable to work by the Pew Research Center. Educational materials are often developed in collaboration with state libraries, university library schools such as Syracuse University School of Information Studies, and national partners like National Network of Libraries of Medicine.