Gates Boosts Rural Libraries

By Rebecca Miller -- Library Journal, 5/1/2006

Some 147 librarians from rural communities in 49 states gathered in March in Boston the day before the opening of the Public Library Association (PLA) conference for an intensive workshop on advocacy, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and PLA. The presentations, panels, and working groups focused on building local support for libraries by evaluating the needs of the community, measuring impact, communicating with decision-makers, and designing an advocacy plan.

Martha Choe, director of the foundation's Global Libraries Program, observed that libraries address the digital divide, act as employment resources, provide critical access to health information, help new immigrants, and more.

In one of several highlights, Leanne Hathcock, director, Aztec Public Library, NM, described an annual UFO symposium the library created, which has attracted tourist dollars and stimulated support for a new building. During lunch, the day's moderator, Dwight McInvaill, director of the Georgetown County Library System, SC, and chair of the PLA Rural Library Services Committee, guided a panel discussion with three “decision-makers,” who spoke frankly about the need for librarians to befriend them before the library needs help and for librarians to be present when decisions are made.

The day-long program was first created for the Seattle PLA in 2004. Three participants were chosen to attend from each state by their respective state librarians. The foundation supported travel costs, plus PLA attendance. Only 50 were PLA members prior to the workshop, but 95 percent of attendees remained for the PLA conference.