Rural Library Leaders Create Vision for ARSL

-- Library Journal, 02/26/2007

Rural library leaders gathered at the Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship (CSRL) at Clarion University, PA, January 30–31 to brainstorm the future of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL). Some 79% of all public libraries in the United States serve populations below 25,000; still, ARSL leaders argue that these libraries are not well supported by the American Library Association (ALA) and library practitioners at these libraries have a hard time maintaining ALA membership or participating in conferences due to relatively high costs of joining and travel. The ARSL was formed in 2002 to focus on the special needs of these libraries and catalyze greater support for them. The organization faces a turning point in its development as Bernard Vavrek, the director of the CSRL and a spearhead of ARSL, is looking to retire within several years.

The planning, facilitated by California State Library's Carla Lehn, determined a need to shore up ARSL's organizational structure by seeking federal tax exempt 501(c)(3) status, formalizing a sustainable relationship with the CSRL, and bolstering membership. Other goals for the organization include establishing ARSL as a clearinghouse for "all things rural" such as grant opportunities for rural libraries, creating continuing education opportunities for library practitioners via regional conferences, working to ensure high speed Internet access in all rural libraries, and partnering with national library and non-library organizations to meet the goals of the organization. ARSL ultimately must build membership to increase the funds and talent to accomplish its goals.