The Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference
Wichita, KS
September 2023
ARSL 2023 was a great experience. It was good to be around other librarians from different areas, sharing programs and ideas. I got to listen to keynotes by authors Will Stuck, Adib Khorram, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Anna-Marie McLemore, Britney s. Lewis, and Megan Bannen, all of whom reminded me that what’s important about libraries is our ability to make a difference in someone’s life. Whether that’s by giving them a safe space, new opportunities to be creative and explore the things they’re capable of, or simply by providing them an array of reading materials that show them no matter who they are or how they identify, they have a place in the world. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks and worries about running a non-profit, but at the end of the day what really matters is the people who come to us and what we provide for them.
I also attended many panels taught by librarians from all over the country, hailing from libraries of various sizes. I came back with several new ideas to try out in my library and a renewed sense of excitement for the work I do. Since I was able to go to this conference because of the generous grant provided by CLRC I decided to give back while I was there and spent some time volunteering in the registration and help booth. It was a fun time answering questions for my fellow librarians and getting to know some of the team behind the ARSL conference.
Thank you for the opportunity to attend this conference and be reminded why I love being a librarian.
Elizabeth Taylor
Assistant Director, Hamilton Public Library
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