Association for Rural & Small Libraries

Give the Gift of ARSL This Holiday Season! Looking for a meaningful holiday gift? Honor a loved one or colleague by gifting them an ARSL membership or donation in their name! Perfect for library managers, directors, and mentors, an ARSL membership opens doors to professional growth, networking, and exclusive member benefits like access to round tables, workshops, and conference discounts. After your gift, we’ll send you a downloadable certificate for a holiday surprise they’ll love. Give the gift that supports small and rural libraries everywhere! Learn more:? https://lnkd.in/gFr4E26q

You don't want to miss the ARSL TRAIN to Empowering Library Workers to be Advocates. Faciliated by your very own ARSL Advocacy Committee. The first part is next Thursday, November 21, 2024! $20 for ARSL Members & $30 for non-ARSL Members. To register for the TRAIN you can visit https://lnkd.in/g4_pe3Yc

Honoring Veterans Day with Stories of Service and Sacrifice This Veterans Day, let’s take a moment to honor the courage and dedication of our veterans by exploring the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project. This incredible resource, Serving Our Voices, shares firsthand stories from veterans across the country, preserving their unique experiences and perspectives for future generations. Explore these stories and share with your community how these narratives bring history to life. Together, we can ensure these voices are celebrated and remembered. Discover the Veterans History Project here: https://lnkd.in/gy-fsm6m

??? It's #VoterEducation Week! Remember to vote in this year's elections! ? If you need to register, check the regulations in your state. More American Library Association resources here: https://bit.ly/4eiZOpv #NationalVoterEducationWeek

?? Empowering Civic Engagement in Our Communities ?? Tomorrow is a very big day in the United States, as citizens head to the polls to exercise their right to vote. Libraries play a vital role in empowering informed citizenship and can serve as beacons of democratic participation for all. As part of ULC's recent Virtual Summit for Civic Health and Democracy, ULC compiled a collection of links to various voter information and civic engagement resources to support libraries' ongoing work. Check out the resource and take some time to hear from the summit's experts on election safety and enhancing democratic engagement: https://lnkd.in/e-C8ShXs

Join us in December for the 2024 Rural Library Network eSummit, a free, virtual event convening rural library practitioners and friends from across rural America to celebrate their role in building strong communities and learn more about using cradle-to-career strategies to address educational and health disparities. Attendees will have the opportunity to receive resources to help them with their work, including bookstore gift cards, Amazon gift cards, and a STEM kit for their library. Learn more and register today at https://cvent.me/ZdEOVw.

Along with presenting at the Association for Rural & Small Libraries Conference, we launched a poll to discover what percent of rural libraries offer business support services! We received 67 responses. Check out the results! Thanks to everyone who participated. #ARSL2024 #RuralLibraries #CommunitySupport #LibraryInnovation #Whova #librariesaslaunchpads Libraries as Launchpads

The Call for Speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025 is now open! Submit your proposal by Friday, December 13, 2024 at https://lnkd.in/gBeJmenQ This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries; the smaller the better! Small libraries of all types - public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. - are encouraged to submit a proposal. We're looking for seven 50-minute presentations and four 10-minute "lightning round" presentations. Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025 will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via the GoTo Webinar online meeting service. This conference is sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Nebraska Library Commission. Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash: https://lnkd.in/d5Q26sX

Tomorrow (Sat., Oct. 19), join libraries and bookstores across the country for the first-ever coordinated #FreedomToRead Day of Action to fight back against an alarming rise in book banning. https://lnkd.in/gVrUyatH Nearly 200 libraries, book sellers, authors, book lovers, and community groups will participate in nearly all fifty states. ?? Attend an event ?? Sign the pledge ?? Help spread the word

We recently earned a Candid Silver Seal of Transparency! What does it mean? It means your contributions, no matter how big or small, are making a significant difference. Our funds go directly to advocacy, professional development programs, and elevating the impact of rural and small libraries. The Candid Seal of Transparency is a recognition provided by Candid, an organization formed through the merger of GuideStar and Foundation Center, two leading entities in the nonprofit sector. It publicly acknowledges a nonprofit’s commitment to openness and accountability. Check out our nonprofit profile to keep up to date with our impact. https://lnkd.in/gQDGeDET