Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026
The conference was broadcast online on Friday, February 27, 2026 from 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central Time, via the GoTo Webinar online meeting service.
8:45-9:00am
Welcome to the Conference & Introductions
Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission; and Sherry Scheline, President, Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).
Rural Libraries and Mental Health
Audra Shaneman, Former Director, Winthrop City Library, Winthrop, MN, Population served: 1,400
The stigma surrounding mental health, suicide and mental illness in rural areas is formidable. Using the library and the mission to support lifelong learning, we can open the door and provide a platform for information, support and healing. For the last two years, the Winthrop City Library hosted a week of mental health programs and activities for residents and patrons. As the Director, this topic is personally impactful to me but I found so many willing partners – I would encourage all rural libraries to consider this opportunity.
Through the Lens of Disability: Library Services Centered on Disability in an Abled World
Stephanie M. Smith, Library Operations Manager, University of New Mexico Center for Development & Disability Library, Albuquerque, NM, Population served: 3,300
Susan Sontag wrote that everyone “holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and…the kingdom of the sick…[S]ooner or later each of us is obliged…to identify…as citizens of that other place.” Yet, disability is often viewed as a personal failing or evidence of sin, subject to bias, ableism, and stereotyping. The motto of the disability rights movement is “nothing about without us.” How do we provide relevant library services to the disability community without positioning ourselves as above or outside it? Our challenge at the University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability Library is to approach serving our disabled patrons through a different lens—from their perspective.
Books UnBanned: The Freedom to Read
Emilia Jury, Youth Services Director, and Trina Erickson, Director, McIntosh Memorial Library, Viroqua, WI, Population served: 4,500
Are you responsible for youth programming or intellectual freedom advocacy in your library? You’ll leave this session with practical strategies to empower teens as leaders in the fight against censorship. From the perspective of a small rural library, our team will share how to design meaningful, youth-led initiatives that build community support for the freedom to read—from book displays and school outreach to author events and book giveaways. Drawing on our yearlong Books UnBanned campaign, you’ll gain replicable tools for teen engagement, partnerships, and resilience against book challenges.
12:00-12:50pm – Lightning Round!
Enhancing Your Board’s Knowledge and Advocacy Power
Brittany Durgin, Director, Moultonborough Public Library, Moultonborough, NH, Population served: 5,000
Enhance your library board’s understanding of library operations through regular, interactive mini-presentations during board meetings. Attendees will be given tips on how to format brief 10-minute presentations and suggested topics to cover. By offering these mini-presentations, directors can help to build a more informed governing board and have this lead to more support when budgeting, more effective advocacy by members of the board, and more productive job evaluations of the director. Mini-presentations can be done by library directors and staff, alike, and can be fun, and a great way to engage in productive and educational dialogues during every board meeting.
Designing for Reality: Building a Space in Academic Libraries for Caregivers
Meghan Kowalski, Outreach and Reference Librarian, The University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, FTE: 2,900
At the University of the District of Columbia, many students balance coursework with caregiving responsibilities. As an HBCU with a largely commuter and non-traditional population, we recognize how family obligations can limit access to effective study spaces. In response, the library created a family-friendly study area where students can work alongside their children. This lightning talk explores why we built the space, how it was designed, and lessons learned so far. Topics include furniture, cost, materials, policies, and student impact. The space supports academic success, reinforces institutional values of inclusion and care, and offers a replicable model for small libraries serving caregivers.
Denise Lawver, Library Director, Wahoo Public Library, Wahoo, NE, Population served: 4,800
Find out how a small community library raises thousands of dollars each year selling used Christmas decorations! The Friends of the Library have sponsored this sale for 24 years–raising just a little over $200 the first year to over $5,000 for a record-breaking year in 2025.
Cassandra O’Connell, Teen/Reference Librarian, Crete Public Library District, Crete, IL, Population served: 8,400
Satisfy the need for all ages programming at your library and have your very own Tiny Art Show. Learn how one library worker can do the entire program by themselves from acquiring 3×3″ canvases, paint sets, to organizing and displaying art.
Beyond the Stacks: Creative Campus & Community Partnerships for Student Success
Kylie Riordan, Information Literacy & Instruction Librarian, and Nichole Novak, Head of Reference and Instruction Services, Illinois Institute of Technology – Paul V. Galvin Library, Chicago, IL, FTE: 7,502
Building meaningful community partnerships is essential for academic libraries wanting to strengthen student support and foster broader student engagement.
We will share the impact of our new collaboration with the local public library, which brought a campus-wide library card drive directly to students; our efforts to better support neurodivergent students by expanding our collections and wellness tools; and how partnering with Career Services allows us to develop tailored workshops that teach students to leverage library databases, company research tools, and industry resources in preparation for the Career Fair.
These community-centered partnerships and initiatives help create a more connected and supportive environment for our students.
Hello, School! Your Friendly Public Library Here
Janene Hill, Library Director, Jensen Memorial Library, Minden, NE, Population served: 3,113
Staying in contact and partnering with local schools is important for libraries, especially in small communities where schedules are tight and resources are sometimes scarce. Jensen Memorial Library uses several methods to keep the public library relevant with school staff and students. These efforts include classroom visits, shared presenters, back-to-school bags for teachers, in-house displays, collection coordination, and more. Library staff also make a concerted effort to stay in contact with key administrators and teachers. The session will include time for idea sharing by participants.
Small Library, Big STEAM Energy
Emily Zumbrun, Rural Entrepreneurship Librarian, West Virginia University Potomac State College, Mary F. Shipper Library, Keyser, WV, FTE: 885
The Mary F. Shipper Library at Potomac State College, a divisional campus of West Virginia University, serves a small rural community where campus resources are vital to community vitality. When a beloved, long-running campus STEM festival ended, the library recognized an opportunity to collaborate and fill the gap. Partnering with local organizations and campus groups, the library launched Shipper STEAM Days, a collection of hands-on programs in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. After a successful debut in 2024, the series expanded to two events in 2025, with plans to grow these outreach and engagement opportunities for years to come.
Food for Thought: Food Pantries, Rescues, and Feeding Our Future
Marie Elena “Jett” Reed, Branch Manager, Indian Springs Library – Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Indian Springs, NV, Population served: 1,000
Food insecurity has become a more dire situation in recent times. The Indian Springs Library in southern Nevada saw this in our community of 1000. Since July 2021, this branch of three employees has hosted a variety of programs feeding seniors, kids, and adults. For the past three years, we’ve done a weekly food rescue, bringing fresh food items in our low-barrier program for all ages. With consideration that every library’s situation and support are different, I’d like to share our journey, showing you some possibilities in hope to smooth your path, should you bring food into your own programming.