Judy Calhoun, President; Vicki Bartz, Vice President; and Meredith Wickham, Co-chair, Marketing & Membership Committee; Association for Rural & Small Libraries Big Talk From Small Libraries 2017 February 24, 2017 http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/

1. Making a BIG Impact
Today’s Presenter:
Judy Calhoun
director.searl@gmail.com
2017 President
Southeast Arkansas
Regional Library
arsl.info

2. ARSL - THE BEGINNING…
Founded by the Library and Information Science by the
head of Center of the Study of Rural Librarianship study
at Clarion University, in Clarion, Pennsylvania, ARSL’s
membership has grown to include 892 librarians from
rural and small communities in 49 of the U.S. states.
Headquarters are now located in Michigan.

3. ARSL-The Premier Professional
Network for Small & Rural Librarians
• ARSL Listserv-
Share perspectives
of working in rural
libraries with a
nation-wide cohort
• ARSL website-
A ‘one-stop shop’ of
rural information
and news

4. ARSL Membership Benefits
Members Only Roundtables
“Meet up” with likeminded librarians
across the U.S. & share your successes,
and failures too!
Topics include:
Recruiting & Managing Volunteers,
Programming in Your Library,
21st Century Library Advocacy,
Wage Laws
…and more.

5. ARSL Membership Benefits
Exclusive access to 800+ member
librarians nationwide!
Contracts with Library Partners
CIPA Compliant Filtering Software
Story Time Ideas
Staff Wellness Programs
Help with these topics and anything
you can think of is just a few clicks
away through the ARSL Listserv.

6. ARSL Membership Benefits
Newsletter
• Quarterly news you can
use, right to your inbox
• Grants
• Upcoming training
• Small and rural library
happenings
• Technology Tips

7. ARSL Membership
Benefits
Professional
Development Workshops & Networking
Annual Conference
Jodee Bock, author of “Own Your Own Story” & Keynote at
the 2016 Fargo Conference, encouraged librarians to set
goals and challenged them to lead with purpose.
Conference workshops encompass a variety of
topics. MakerSpace was a popular session in 2016.
“I came back from this conference
inspired and equipped with several new,
concrete ideas for my library and
myself!”Aaron Mehaffey
SANDHILL REGIONAL LIBRARY, NORTH CAROLINA

8. ARSL Opportunity About 80% of U.S. Libraries are small,
rural, or both small & rural.
Students, Retirees, Friends, Trustees,
Volunteers
$15
Library Staff < $14,999 $15
Library Staff = $15,000-$29,999 $29
Library Staff > $30,000 $49
Library Institutional Membership
(Three library employees receive membership benefits)
$150
Business Membership $200
Membership is affordable, and
everyone is welcome to join!
Join on the Membership page of the
ARSL website
arsl.info/membership

9. Thank you ARSL members! You all have helped me
make better decisions for our new City
library. Thank you for your guidance and your energy. I
have truly met friends on the ARSL Listserv, people
that understand and appreciate the
sometimes thankless job librarians do and understand
that sometimes just someone to talk to can mean a
world of difference.
I am a proud member of ARSL and can’t imagine not
having this resource. Thank you for what you do and for
making the Association of Rural & Small Libraries a real
thing. There is a need out there and
you have helped fill it.
Tracy M. Cole, MLIS
Library Director
Spanish Fort Public Library (Spanish Fort, AL)

10. Volunteer Driven
ARSL’s work is a result of volunteers
who roll up their sleeves and make it
happen!
• Executive Committee
• Marketing & Communications Committee
• Membership Development
• Partnerships
• Governance
• Finance
• Conference
• Nominating Committee
ARSL 2016-17 Board of Directors

12. arsl.info
Co-Presenters
Vicki Bartz
vicki.bartz@pioneerland.lib.mn.us
2017/2018 President-Elect
2017 Conference Chair
Meredith Wickham
Co-Chair Marketing & Membership
meredithwickham@gmail.com