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The Full Spectrum Career in Libraries<br />Rural & Small Librarianship<br />Sonja Plummer-Morgan, MLIS<br />Maine Library Association President & VP Pres Elect Association for Rural & Small Libraries<br />LIS Career Fair January 2010<br />

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*“In the United States, 80% (7,118) of institutions are located in population centers serving up to 25,000 people. Of this 80%, three out of ten libraries (2,656) may be found providing services in places up to 2,500 individuals. The majority of rural libraries, (&lt;2500 people) are staffed by one full-time person, have a collection of fewer than 10,000 books.” ~Bernard Vavrek<br />**&quot;Rural and Small Libraries: Providers for Lifelong Learning” <br />http://www.ed.gov/pubs/PLLIConf95/librry.html<br />

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http://www.arsl.info<br />ARSL Mission: <br />To provide a network of people and materials to support rural and small library staff, volunteers, and trustees to integrate the library thoroughly with the life and work of the community it serves.<br />

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The Voice of Rural & Small Librarians<br />

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The Challenge of Rural & Small Librarianship<br />Rural librarians often feel isolated from colleagues. Working alone as a solo librarian means you are called upon to fulfill the role of reference, director, circulation desk, and any other service that you offer. <br />This is the “full-spectrum” librarianship that is both challenge and chance to innovate. <br />

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Challenge & Change as Chance for Innovation<br />Uniqueness of rural libraries means that you have opportunities to create services , you understand your community needs, and you are often the only place in town that offers what you do. <br />

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“Cut through the management speak, and the key to success is simple: Observe people going about their daily lives, identify unmet needs, and come up with a new product.” <br />~Dr. Frank Luntz<br />What Americans Really Want…Really<br />

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“No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew.” ~ Albert Einstein <br />Appreciative Inquiry: Where AI, positive change research and organizational <br />leadership connect for world benefit. http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/<br />

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Words Matter that matter in interviews and on resumes…<br /><ul><li>Rebuild

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Renew

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Revitalize

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Refresh

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Restore

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Change

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Action

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Commitment

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Vigilance

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Time

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Patience

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Accountability

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Responsibility

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Quality

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Employee-focused

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Environmentally friendly

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Reliable

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Transparent

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Leadership

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Efficiency

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Community-focused</li></ul>Look at your entire career—all skills are valuable to librarianship<br />Online social networks are your networking friend – LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook<br />Your local, state, and national organizations are your lifeline<br />Rural isolation can be partially mitigated by your connections. <br />**What Americans Really Wants…Really, Dr. Frank Lutz<br />

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Other Links to Consider: <br /><ul><li>85 Reasons to be Thankful for Librarians http://www.zencollegelife.com/2009/12/29/85-reasons-to-be-thankful-for-librarians/

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ARSL Job Links: http://www.arsl.info/links/job-search/

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ONET Online: http://online.onetcenter.org/</li></ul>Sonja Plummer-Morgan, MLIS<br />President, Maine Library Association & VP Pres Elect ARSL<br />39 Second Street, Presque Isle, Maine 04769<br />http://www.twitter.com/SonjaandLibrary<br />207.764.2571<br />pimelibrarian@gmail.com<br />