New Look for our Rural and Small Library Community
Welcome to our Rural and Small Library Community. We are excited to bring you a new look and many new features that will allow you to connect with colleagues from around the country and stay connected with them. You'll also be able to share ideas and content in seconds and post them to the Rural Community for everyone. If you're used to using this area as a launching-off point into the resources and discussion on WebJunction, you'll see that not much has changed. You're still able to use the Navigation Rail on the left side to find your favorite content. Your discussion link is now a tab directly above this welcome. The headlines below will change regularly and give you the latest news and information relating to running a rural/small library. We are glad you're here.
Best Small Library in America Guidelines
The Best Small Library in America Guidelines (2008) are out. Please submit your application by November 3rd for a chance at this year's award.
ARSL News
Go West: Discover Gold @ Your Library
The Association for Rural and Small Libraries annual conference in Sacramento, CA, September 19-21, 2008, is in full swing. See the ARSL conference section for handouts and updates.
Become a member of ARSL today. See additional Organization and Conference Information .
Recent Rural Webinar
Motivating Your Board: Monday, Lawsuits, and Facilities (oh boy)
This is our second in a series of board webinars for 2008. This webinar is all about motivating your board to realize their full potential and positively impact your community. Whether you have an active board or one that just goes through the motions, this session will provide tips for igniting even those with the wettest of wood.
Ellen Miller and Jim Connor will facilitate.
This is the archive of the webinar that took place on Thursday, July 31st. Our next two board webinars will be on October 9th and November 13th. Read more about these upcoming webinars.
Read more about this Webinar and how to join »
Rural Libraries in the News
WebJunction and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries are building momentum and connecting librarians in a Community of Practice that provides information, resources and inspiration for rural and small libraries. This Next Space article discusses the partnership and highlights work from members in Iowa and Wisconsin.
www.oclc.org/nextspace/008/advocacy.htm

Digital TV Transition
Referred from Emily Sheketoff, ALA Washington Office:
This ALA web site includes information on the transition, the government's coupon program, and assistance for public programs, including how to get Radio Shack to bring converter boxes to your library to demonstrate how they work and how to hook them up.
Featured Resource
Effective Governance for Rural Libraries, an interesting new concept paper by Patricia H. Fisher, Ellen G. Miller, and James Connor, has been added to WebJunction resources. Effective Governance for Rural Libraries outlines the need for a Program for Effective Governance (PEG) that rural boards could use to empower their directors and front-line staff to improve their own libraries and/or their communities. The proposed model includes an "A to Z" set of actions, a phased implementation plan, and the importance of including "a helper or facilitator" in the game plan.
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Best Small Library in America 2008 Guidelines
Has your library (over the past 2 years) raised its profile in your community, reached out to new users and remote users, and used technology to support & grow patron access to materials and information? Apply by November 3rd for 2008 award consideration.
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Websites and Internet Resources on Services to Rural & Small Libraries
A list of external links.
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Websites and Internet Resources on Services to Rural & Small Libraries
A list of external links.
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Websites and Internet Resources on Services to Rural & Small Libraries
A list of external links
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Checklist for Hiring a Library Director
A useful tool for assisting Library Boards in searching for a new Director.
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WebJunction's Rural Library Sustainability Online Course
Learn more about WebJunction's free, self-paced, online course which is based on the success of the Rural Library Sustainability workshop curriculum and the growing exchange of information, ideas, and expertise on WebJunction.
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