ARSL @ ALA Midwinter

ARSL has something for everyone during this year's ALA Midwinter Conference! We are excited to be hosting not one, but two sessions this year:

Small and Rural Libraries: A Candid Discussion
Saturday, January 23, 12:15 pm CT  (ARSLMW registration required)

Informational Session: The Association for Rural and Small Libraries
Monday, January 25, 10:00 am CT  (no ARSLMW registration required)

Learn more!

Apply for the Outstanding in Their Field Leadership Institute!

We are excited to announce that applications for ARSL’s pilot leadership institute, Outstanding In Their Field, are officially open! We are looking for 30 outstanding people who are currently working in rural and small libraries to join us for this special professional development opportunity.

Applications will be accepted through February 24th, 2021.

Participants, a.k.a. “Outfielders,” will undertake 18 months of online and in-person interactive sessions.

It’s a BIG commitment, and rewarding!

Visit the ARSL Outstanding in Their Field website for more information.

Catch the ARSL TRAIN!

Introducing ARSL’s TRAIN (Training, Roundtables, and Informational Networking) Series! Once a month, tune in for an online workshop, roundtable, or networking event.

Join us for our members-only January TRAIN Roundtable, "Envisioning 2021," on Thursday, January 21, 11:00 am-12:30 pm PT/1:00-2:30 pm CT. As we say good riddance to the trainwreck that was 2020, we look forward to getting 2021 back on track! Join your ARSL colleagues to envision the possibilities for 2021 and beyond. Share your New Year's resolutions, strategic goals, obstacles, and hopes for the future. Facilitated by Patrick Bodily, Director, Independence Public Library (OR). Registration will open Monday, January 11.

ARSL Statement on Anti-Racism

Because Black lives matter and library professionals can be agents of change in rural and small communities across the nation, ARSL urges our members to stand up and speak out to end systemic oppression and police brutality. The ARSL Board of Directors is in active discussion about how we will commit to anti-racist work within our association.

Silence is compliance.

ARSL has something for everyone during this year's ALA Midwinter Conference! We are excited to be hosting not one, but two sessions this year:

Small and Rural Libraries: A Candid Discussion

Saturday, January 23, 12:15 pm CT

Join ARSL President Kathy Zappitello, ARSL Vice President Bailee Hutchinson, ARSL Past-President Jennifer Pearson, and ARSL Executive Kate Laughlin for a facilitated panel discussion about the current successes and challenges in rural and small libraries. This session is only available for registered ALA Midwinter attendees.

Informational Session: The Association for Rural and Small Libraries

Monday, January 25, 10:00 am CT

This informal Q&A session will explore the many benefits of membership in ARSL, both to the individual members and to the community of rural and small libraries as a whole. Facilitated by ARSL Board Members Phillip Carter, Kathy Street, and Timothy Owens. This session is free and open to all, no ALA Midwinter registration required. Register for this session.