Opportunity Out of Adversity: Digital Access in Rural and Small Libraries

Opportunity often hides behind adversity. As libraries look to a future of post-pandemic challenges, from looming budget cuts to increasingly urgent community needs, David Lankes, in The "New Normal" Agenda for Librarianship, encourages us to consider framing the positive opportunities, rather than loss, in the changes that lie ahead. If we are intentional, we can use these circumstances to grow our organizations and to address the digital access disparities in small and rural communities. This presentation will explore how one rural library has improved internet access in partnership with an internet service provider, hosted telehealth appointments in collaboration with healthcare providers and transportation agencies, worked with schools to ensure opportunities for youth through esports, and improved digital literacy skills for patrons and local businesses.

This webinar is hosted in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).