ARSL Update: Continuing to Stand Strong for Rural Libraries

Over the past few months, our team has been working diligently to advocate for rural and small libraries at every level, from assisting individual libraries in addressing local concerns to securing a place for our community at national policy tables. Amid the ongoing threats to library funding and access to information, ARSL remains deeply committed to ensuring our community's voices are heard, valued, and represented.

In May, we shared an update covering our advocacy efforts from January through April 2025. Today, we want to share how we've continued showing up for rural libraries across the country since then, and how you can help.

Since May 2025, ARSL has:

Stood firm in support of the Right to Read
  • Participated in weekly Right to Read Coalition Steering Committee and Legislative Working Group meetings, and a monthly Town Hall
  • Issued a statement during Banned Books Week in partnership with the Right to Read Coalition
  • Co-signed an amicus brief with the American Library Association and 12 partner organizations in support of intellectual freedom
  • Provided just-in-time advocacy support for our library community through the ARSL Advocacy Committee
Deepened strategic partnerships with national allies
  • Participated in ongoing monthly IMLS Alliance meetings to advocate for library funding
  • Coordinated with the Urban Libraries Council on legislative outreach, resulting in 13 Senate meetings and 11 House meetings focused on IMLS funding and rural library impact across 18 states, bring our total congressional meetings to 32 attended since April 2025
  • Engaged in bi-weekly Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition policy calls to advocate for broadband access in rural communities
  • Met with legal counsel alongside ALA regarding IMLS-related amicus brief strategy for Rhode Island
  • Facilitated interviews with national media outlets, including Reuters, Library Journal, LA Times, and the New York Times
  • Attended Common Ground, a two-day convening of 50-70 library workers and policy advocates focused on peer learning, skill-sharing, and building collective power
Engaged in national library advocacy
  • Brought 30+ library leaders to meet alongside our Executive Director with 25+ key U.S. Senators and Representatives from Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, focusing on IMLS funding and rural library needs
  • Met with Senate HELP Committee staff and key legislators to discuss rural library needs
  • Participated in National Library Legislative Day to advocate for sustained federal library funding
Provided advocacy education by and for rural and small libraries
  • Led ALA session "Advocate Smarter and Harder: Advocacy Tools for Rural and Small Libraries" on building community engagement and connections to sustain library support
  • Facilitated advocacy-focused TRAIN sessions on empowering library stakeholders (July, August) and storytelling for advocacy (October)
  • Delivered conference programming on state-level legislative advocacy, abundance mindset strategies, intellectual freedom through The Librarians documentary screening, and bridgebuilding practices with the Urban Libraries Council
Continued long-term strategy work
Beyond our immediate advocacy efforts, ARSL remains dedicated to building sustainable, long-term support for small and rural libraries across America. We've continued to hold strategy sessions to align advocacy opportunities with evolving community needs and have strengthened partnerships with our national allies, who are committed to library access. These behind-the-scenes efforts are part of our ongoing mission to ensure that small and rural libraries have a seat at the table and can continue to contribute their unique perspectives to help shape the future of library services.

While the road ahead is long, we're energized by the passion and resilience of our network and will continue moving forward together!

Here’s how you can help:

 ✅ Join ARSL to stay connected to the latest developments in small and rural libraries
 ✅Tell us what you need—we’re here to listen, learn, and advocate alongside you
 ✅ Support our mission by making a donation to sustain this critical work
 ✅ Share this update with your colleagues and local leaders to spread awareness

Thank you for being part of this powerful community. We are stronger together.

Issued November 2025 by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL)