1. The Full Spectrum Career in Libraries Rural & Small Librarianship Sonja Plummer-Morgan, MLIS Maine Library Association President & VP Pres Elect Association for Rural & Small Libraries LIS Career Fair January 2010
2. *“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, (<2500 people) are staffed by one full-time person, have a collection of fewer than 10,000 books.” ~Bernard Vavrek **"Rural and Small Libraries: Providers for Lifelong Learning” http://www.ed.gov/pubs/PLLIConf95/librry.html
3. http://www.arsl.info ARSL Mission: 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.
5. The Challenge of Rural & Small Librarianship 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. This is the “full-spectrum” librarianship that is both challenge and chance to innovate.
6. Challenge & Change as Chance for Innovation 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.
7. “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.” ~Dr. Frank Luntz What Americans Really Want…Really
8. “No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew.” ~ Albert Einstein Appreciative Inquiry: Where AI, positive change research and organizational leadership connect for world benefit. http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/
29. Community-focusedLook at your entire career—all skills are valuable to librarianship Online social networks are your networking friend – LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Your local, state, and national organizations are your lifeline Rural isolation can be partially mitigated by your connections. **What Americans Really Wants…Really, Dr. Frank Lutz
