““Focusing on Trends of Rural Focusing on Trends of Rural and Small Libraries”and Small Libraries”

______________________________________________State Library of KansasState Library of Kansas

Bernard Vavrek, Department of Bernard Vavrek, Department of Library Science, Clarion UniversityLibrary Science, Clarion University

vavrek@clarion.eduvavrek@clarion.eduOctober 4, 2006October 4, 2006

Where in the world is Clarion, Where in the world is Clarion, PA?PA?

85 miles northeast of Pittsburgh85 miles northeast of Pittsburgh

Exit 62, Interstate 80Exit 62, Interstate 80

Near Cook Forest State ParkNear Cook Forest State Park

Community of 6,000Community of 6,000

An additional 6,000 studentsAn additional 6,000 students

Clarion University began in Clarion University began in 18671867

Approximately 6,000 studentsApproximately 6,000 students

80 academic programs80 academic programs

Department of Library Science Department of Library Science started in 1937started in 1937

Accredited by ALA since 1976Accredited by ALA since 1976

Modes of educational delivery via Modes of educational delivery via Clarion UniversityClarion University

Face to faceFace to face

Online using Blackboard softwareOnline using Blackboard software

Combination of both F2F and onlineCombination of both F2F and online

Complete online master’s degreeComplete online master’s degree

Center for the Study of Rural Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship (CSRL)Librarianship (CSRL)

Started in 1978Started in 1978

Educational, research, rah-rah Educational, research, rah-rah

Publishes “Rural Libraries” and Publishes “Rural Libraries” and “Bookmobiles and Outreach “Bookmobiles and Outreach Services.”Services.”

www.clarion.edu/ruralwww.clarion.edu/rural

Virtual library association supported Virtual library association supported by the CSRLby the CSRL

Association of Rural and Small Association of Rural and Small Libraries Libraries http://arsl.clarion.eduhttp://arsl.clarion.edu

Please join on complimentary basis.Please join on complimentary basis.

Otherwise, dues is $39/year for each.Otherwise, dues is $39/year for each.

Assignment is to identify trends Assignment is to identify trends affecting rural and small librariesaffecting rural and small libraries..

Depending on the section of the Depending on the section of the country, rural places are country, rural places are disappearing as exurbanization takes disappearing as exurbanization takes place.place.

Rural has morphed into “country.”Rural has morphed into “country.”

““Where all the women are strong, Where all the women are strong, the men good-looking, and the the men good-looking, and the children are above average.”children are above average.”

Rural places include those that are:Rural places include those that are:

FarmingFarmingIndustrialIndustrialRanchRanchResortResortExtractiveExtractiveCollege/universityCollege/universitySeats of governmentSeats of governmentNew housing developmentsNew housing developments

Defining rural, always tricky.Defining rural, always tricky.

In Canada, e.g., rural consists of In Canada, e.g., rural consists of places of fewer than 1,000 people.places of fewer than 1,000 people.

In US, urban starts at 2,500 folks.In US, urban starts at 2,500 folks.

Recently, in the US, “micropolitan” Recently, in the US, “micropolitan” has been introduced to identify has been introduced to identify towns of fewer than 10,000.towns of fewer than 10,000.

Today, rural=nonmetroplitanToday, rural=nonmetroplitan

And the numbers showAnd the numbers show

That most Americans live in urban That most Americans live in urban [suburban] places.[suburban] places.

The rural population is about 49 The rural population is about 49 million.million.

PA has the largest rural population PA has the largest rural population with about 4 million.with about 4 million.

Largest growth by Hispanics, 25%Largest growth by Hispanics, 25%

Here come the trendsHere come the trends

The following are some factors that The following are some factors that will influence libraries at least for the will influence libraries at least for the next couple of years.next couple of years.

The list is not exhaustive.The list is not exhaustive.

1. The war in Iraq1. The war in Iraq

The war in Iraq will continue to The war in Iraq will continue to distract the federal government and distract the federal government and cause discord regardless of what cause discord regardless of what party is in power.party is in power.

Needed domestic resources will be Needed domestic resources will be spent elsewhere.spent elsewhere.

2. The cost of gasoline, etc.2. The cost of gasoline, etc.

Energy prices, natural gas, oil, are Energy prices, natural gas, oil, are hanging in the balance of world hanging in the balance of world events.events.

Libraries, with even sustainable Libraries, with even sustainable budgets, could be negatively budgets, could be negatively affected. affected.

Libraries should budget for possible Libraries should budget for possible increases.increases.

3. Influx of new Americans3. Influx of new AmericansWhether documented or not, some Whether documented or not, some libraries are facing resistance to libraries are facing resistance to providing services for those not providing services for those not paying local taxes.paying local taxes.Case in Tennessee, last week, Case in Tennessee, last week, illustrates this and is not alone.illustrates this and is not alone.Library staff has to “know” users and Library staff has to “know” users and nonusers and provide relevant nonusers and provide relevant services.services.

4. It’s all in the local economy4. It’s all in the local economy

Few towns will attract Honda plants.Few towns will attract Honda plants.

Places that are growing will probably Places that are growing will probably continue, with the reverse being continue, with the reverse being true.true.

For the most part, it is in the hands For the most part, it is in the hands of the community, itself.of the community, itself.

Public library has to participate and Public library has to participate and support economic development.support economic development.

5. Local agencies competing for $5. Local agencies competing for $

Based on economy and number of Based on economy and number of palms outstretched, library will have palms outstretched, library will have continuing—if not escalating continuing—if not escalating challenge, getting its fair share of the challenge, getting its fair share of the tax monies.tax monies.

Its community role will make the Its community role will make the difference.difference.

6. Looking for new roles6. Looking for new roles

Libraries should look for new roles—Libraries should look for new roles—not necessarily additional ones.not necessarily additional ones.

How about day care service?How about day care service?

How about being America’s literacy How about being America’s literacy provider?provider?

New roles demand new training, etc.New roles demand new training, etc.

7. Service will make the difference7. Service will make the difference

Public libraries will live or die by the Public libraries will live or die by the quality of service provided.quality of service provided.

Public has raised expectations even Public has raised expectations even with limited financial support.with limited financial support.

And they will want relevant services.And they will want relevant services.

So find out what these are.So find out what these are.

8. Don’t take relevance for granted8. Don’t take relevance for granted

Public library continues to be Public library continues to be considered relevant institution and considered relevant institution and staff is considered trustworthy, but it staff is considered trustworthy, but it will continue to take daily efforts to will continue to take daily efforts to sustain these.sustain these.

Marketing continues to be Marketing continues to be misunderstood. It is a process not misunderstood. It is a process not only items in the newspaper.only items in the newspaper.

9. Information everywhere9. Information everywhereChallenge for the library is to “niche” Challenge for the library is to “niche” itself for all to see. First, it has to itself for all to see. First, it has to find out how it is perceived, now.find out how it is perceived, now.Today, competing information Today, competing information resources are as close as the cell resources are as close as the cell phone.phone.Planning for the future has become Planning for the future has become even more critical--even with even more critical--even with diminished resources.diminished resources.

10. Cooperation10. Cooperation

In places where rural and urban In places where rural and urban spaces are mixed together, need for spaces are mixed together, need for mutual dialog.mutual dialog.

The above is very true also with The above is very true also with other libraries [if any] and town other libraries [if any] and town agencies and associations.agencies and associations.

Don’t forget about playing nice with Don’t forget about playing nice with trustees/library boards.trustees/library boards.

11. Life after Bill & Melinda 11. Life after Bill & Melinda GatesGates

While the Gates Foundation While the Gates Foundation continues to find ways to support the continues to find ways to support the tech habit of libraries, one should not tech habit of libraries, one should not count on this for the future.count on this for the future.

To insure support, larger units of To insure support, larger units of action are necessary resulting in action are necessary resulting in community technology plans with the community technology plans with the library at the center. library at the center.

11. Continued…11. Continued…

Staff has to work together to insure Staff has to work together to insure that tech is applied in relevant ways that tech is applied in relevant ways or it may actually contribute to the or it may actually contribute to the library’s isolation.library’s isolation.

But the staff should not be the pit But the staff should not be the pit crew for the Internet.crew for the Internet.

And remember that other Web sites, And remember that other Web sites, etc., are only a click away.etc., are only a click away.

12. Staff development is key12. Staff development is key

The greatest asset of the library is its The greatest asset of the library is its staff.staff.

Renewed effort to upgrade education Renewed effort to upgrade education and skills.and skills.

Library must budget for this.Library must budget for this.

Growing online services will help.Growing online services will help.

Don’t forget to thank volunteers.Don’t forget to thank volunteers.

12. Continued12. Continued

While thinking of staff, libraries may While thinking of staff, libraries may soon close their doors because of a soon close their doors because of a lack of suitable staff.lack of suitable staff.

Need to work at all levels to raise Need to work at all levels to raise education/training, and particularly education/training, and particularly salaries.salaries.

13. Keeping a smiley face13. Keeping a smiley face

Despite challenges library Despite challenges library community has maintained community has maintained optimism.optimism.

But, in some places, the smiley faces But, in some places, the smiley faces are getting tired.are getting tired.

Society is fortunate that dedicated Society is fortunate that dedicated library staff, volunteers, and others library staff, volunteers, and others involved with the library are so involved with the library are so committed to sustainability.committed to sustainability.

The endThe end

Thanks to Cindi Hickey and the State Thanks to Cindi Hickey and the State Library of Kansas, via OPAL, for the Library of Kansas, via OPAL, for the opportunity of visiting with you.opportunity of visiting with you.