Patti Lehman – Passion, Purpose & Project Patron; Antlers Public Library Director discusses her library career and involvement with ARSL.

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When she first started working as a librarian, Patti often felt isolated. That changed when she stumbled across a scholarship to the ARSL virtual conference in 2020. “I knew I had to get involved,” she said. “I finally had a community to bounce ideas off!”

Patti immediately joined the Marketing & Communications Committee and has been volunteering with ARSL ever since. She’s also attended many ARSL classes, including one on Bridges Out of Poverty. It helped her rethink how her library served the community. “We dressed more casually, relaxed expectations. It really changed everything.”

One example is Professor Booker Read, the library cat. Found in a Walmart parking lot, Booker joined the library thanks to Patti’s research on therapy animal laws and a strong fan base. “Hundreds of people come just to see him,” she laughed.

Patti also led a complete redesign of her library through a project she named “Project Patron.” It took five years, as she pulled every possible lever from USDA funding to a viral State Farm contest. The final result is a warm, rural-themed library with murals, taxidermy, puppets, and Choctaw-inspired artwork. She’s quick to credit others for the project's success. “We were balling on a budget,” she joked, “but it worked.”

Unfortunately, Patti was recently forced to step down from the Partnership Committee when she lost a third of her staff. “There’s so much uncertainty around IMLS funding right now, and that’s nerve-wracking,” she said. “Libraries, especially rural ones, rely so much on that support.” But she stays hopeful. “ARSL and the internet give us ways to stay connected, learn, and advocate.”

Her favorite advice for new librarians? Go outside! “Go to community events. Join a local group. Talk to people. The best librarians aren’t hidden behind a desk.” Patti’s words are heartfelt and rooted in decades of experience:

“You won’t make a salary equal to the work you do, but you’ll change lives. You can’t do it all, so do what matters. Know your community. Talk to them. Let go of what doesn’t work, and stay connected with others doing this work. ARSL keeps us going.”

Written by the ARSL Office