Rural Librarians Plan Ahead
Leaders’ meeting aims to clarify vision, organization of association
By Rebecca Miller -- Library Journal, 3/15/2007
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 percent of all public libraries in the United States serve populations below 25,000; still, ASRL 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 owing to the relatively high fees and travel expenses.
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 CSRL and a spearhead of ARSL, is looking to retire within several years.
Organizational boost
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 CSRL, and bolstering membership. Other goals 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 nonlibrary organizations. ARSL ultimately must build membership to increase the funds and talent to accomplish its goals.
Besides ARSL board members, also present were Susan Hill, director of Paulding County Carnegie Library, OH, and editor of Rural Library Newsletter; Jim Malzewski, who heads the Rural Library Sustainability Project for WebJunction; and Emily Parker, a program officer for U.S. Libraries with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who is focused on connectivity for rural libraries.
