Rural and small public libraries : challenges and opportunities / Brian Real.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Real, Brian, editor.

Series:

Advances in librarianship, 0065-2830 ; v. 43

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rural libraries.

Small libraries.

Public libraries.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (223 pages).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Bingley, England : Emerald Publishing, 2018.

Summary:

Rural and small public libraries provide invaluable services to their communities. These information institutions operate in areas that, when compared to national averages, have poor broadband accessibility and weaker connection speeds, low home internet adoption rates, higher unemployment rates, and less per capita access to doctors and other healthcare providers. Public libraries help to bridge these divides and help to mitigate the impact of these geographic and socioeconomic disadvantages. However, librarians are only able to do so much when they are funded by limited, primarily local revenues and are not able to achieve economies of scale that come with larger service population bases. Thus, this volume begins by defining the challenges that rural and small libraries face before shifting to an analysis of ways that these obstacles can be overcome or mitigated. Building off of this foundation, the authors explore ideas for enhancing community partnerships and outreach, using rural and small public libraries as centers for local cultural heritage activities, and training rural public librarians to better serve their publics. The authors of this volume bridge the gap between academic research and practical application, creating a volume that will allow rural librarians, trustees, and their allies to argue for greater support and enact change to benefit their service communities.

Contents:

Intro

RURAL AND SMALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Editor's Dedication

Contents

About the Contributors

Editors' Introduction to the Advances in Librarianship Series

Introduction: Rural Public Libraries in Academic and Political Contexts

I. The Recent State of Scholarship on Rural Public Libraries

II. Chapter Layout and Contents

III. Conclusion: The State of the Field, Current Discussions, and Looming Threats

References

Rural Libraries and the Human Right to Internet Access

I. Introduction

II. Is Internet Access a Human Right?

A. An International Perspective

B. The United States Perspective

C. A Library Professional Perspective

D. A Right in Practice

III. Broadening our Perspective on Access

IV. Facets and Determinants

A. Facets: The Standard Threats Analysis

B. Determinants: The PhIS Analysis

C. Internet as Information

V. How Rural Libraries Help

VI. How Society Can Help Rural Libraries

A. Professional Organizations, Education, and Advocacy

B. The Private Sector

C. Public Policy and Funding

VII. Conclusion

Rural Public Libraries in America: Continuing and Impending Challenges

I. Methodology

II. Different Types of Rural Locales: Fringe, Distant, and Remote

III. Libraries, Rural Libraries, and the Internet

IV. Broadband and Technological Capacity

V. Basic Technology Skills

VI. Employment and Economic Development

VII. Educational Assistance

VIII. Community Engagement and Group Events

IX. Moving Beyond Technology: Next Steps Toward Service Expansion

X. Staffing and Hours Open

XI. Aging and Inadequate Library Buildings

XII. Statewide and Regional Solutions

XIII. Multi-Tiered Cooperation at State, Regional, and Local Levels

XIV. Lack of Cooperation and Concerns about Autonomy.

XV. Conclusion

Exploring Rural Public Library Assets for Asset-Based Community Development

II. Research Problem/Questions

III. Asset-Based Community Development

IV. Assets

V. Rural Public Libraries and ABCD

A. Methodology

B. Study Limitations

C. Fringe, Distant, and Remote Rural Library Asset Differences

D. Data Mining Fringe, Distant, and Remote Rural Public Library Assets

E. Drilling Down Asset Differences

1. Outlets

2. MLIS Degrees

3. Public Access Terminals

F. Regions and Demographics

1. Regional and Demographic Interactions: Library Expenditures

2. Regional and Demographic Interactions: Rural Populations

VI. Conclusions

A Gap Analysis of the Perspectives of Small Businesses and Rural Librarians in Tennessee: Developments Toward a Blueprint for a Public Library Small Business Toolkit

II. Rural Context in Tennessee

III. Tennessee's Regional Libraries

IV. Research Methods

V. Findings

B. Existing Information-Related Assistance Needs of Small Businesses

C. Respondent Feedback Regarding Information-Related Challenges

D. Desired Public Library Use

E. Information-Related Components of a Public Library Small Business Toolkit

VI. Discussion

A. Existing Information Assistance Needed by Small Businesses

B. Respondent Feedback Regarding Information-Related Challenges

C. Desired Public Library Use

D. Information-Related Components of a Public Library Small Business Toolkit

Rural Librarians as Change Agents in the Twenty-First Century: Applying Community Informatics in the Southern and Central Appalachian Region to Further ICT Literacy Training

II. A Community Informatics Perspective

III. ICTs and Rural Communities.

IV. The Role of Rural Libraries

V. Distance Education to Train Librarians

VI. The Rural Digital Divides in the SCA Region

VII. The ITRL and ITRL2 Context

VIII. Measuring the Impact of ITRL and ITRL2

IX. ICT Innovations in ITRL and ITRL2 Course Delivery Mechanism

X. Community-Driven ICT Deliverables for Rural SCA Libraries

A. Improved Technological Skills to Provide More Effective ICT Services

B. Provided Strategic Assessment of ICT Services

C. Developed Online Communication and ICT Evaluation Instruments to Collect Feedback from Various Constituencies

D. Participated in "Hands-on Learning" ICT Projects

E. Adopted Alternative and Cheaper ICT Resources

F. Designed and Developed Rural Library Websites

G. Developed Information Retrieval Skills Online

H. Improved Skills to Allow Better User Electronic Access

I. Integrated IT into Student Perspectives and Shaped Community Expectations of an LIS Professional

XI. Placing ITRL and ITRL2 in a Community Informatics Context

XII. Conclusion

Defining Community Archives within Rural South Carolina

II. Situating Community and Rurality in Definitions of Archives

III. Methodology

IV. Findings

A. Variations of Community Archives

V. Suggestions for Addressing Needs of Rural Community Archives

A. Digitization/Transfer Stations and State Institutional Aid

B. Harnessing a Digital Presence

C. Refiguring Grant Writing and the Funding Landscape

VI. Conclusion

Exhibiting America: Moving Image Archives and Rural or Small Libraries

I. Motion Pictures Become Public Library Materials

II. Sticks Nix Hick Pix

III. Rural Libraries and How They Grew

IV. On the Road: Film in the Bookmobile

V. Life Cycle of a Medium: Advent of Video

VI. Northeast Historic Film.

VII. Texas Archive of the Moving Image

VIII. Reclaiming Film

IX. Home Movie Day

X. Conclusion

Rural and Small Libraries: The Tribal Experience

I. Old Pascua Museum and Yaqui Cultural Center, Tucson, Arizona

II. Training, Education, and Advocacy: Supporting Professionalism in Rural Libraries

III. Partnerships and Regionalism: Enhancing Library Impact Through Meaningful Collaboration

IV. The Rural Information Ecosystem: Beyond Rural Public Libraries

V. Specific Challenges: Innovation in Libraries

VI. Charlie Benally Kinyaa'áani Library, Diné College, Navajo Nation

VII. Training, Education, and Advocacy: Supporting Professionalism in Rural Libraries

VIII. Partnerships and Regionalism: Enhancing Library Impact through Meaningful Collaboration

IX. The Rural Information Ecosystem: Beyond Rural Public Libraries

X. Specific Challenges: Innovation in Libraries

XI. Conclusion

Index.

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references.

Print version record

ISBN:

9781787432536

178743253X

9781787431119

1787431118