There’s something magical about dawn over the desert when hot air balloons drift serenely above the Rio Grande Valley with their neon colors glowing against the pale morning sky. That’s the same sense of wonder attendees experienced at the 2025 Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this…
With Summer Library Program in the review mirror, you can practically hear the thrum of those yellow limousines, taste the cafeteria‘s food service delights, and smell the essential oils of fresh pencil shavings mingling with melted crayons. And now that it’s back to school season, learning and reflection are top of mind. As the young…
Although none were born into leadership, it is a truth universally acknowledged that some achieve it and some have it thrust upon them. With apologies to both Shakespeare and Austen, the path to library leadership can be as varied as the individuals who travel it. Directors and head librarians come to this work by many…
The spirit of transformation was alive and well at the 2025 Texas Library Association’s Annual Conference, themed “Library Renaissance: Our Quest for Renewal.” Against a backdrop of evolving community needs and rapid change, library professionals from all sectors came together to reimagine the role of libraries in a shifting world. This powerful theme set the…
As the new year has well and truly begun, many people reflect on the past, seeking to understand where they come from, who their ancestors were, and how their family’s history shaped their present. One of the best ways to begin exploring their roots is to visit their local library. Frequently, small rural libraries serve…
I recently attended the 2024 Association for Small and Rural Libraries (ARSL) conference. The theme “Libraries are (r)Evolutionary” proclaimed that the event aimed to provide an opportunity for exploring the transformative power of rural and small libraries in our communities. Thus, I’d spend the next four days flitting from session to vivid session through the meadow of…
The end of September heralded the final bow for my visits to small public libraries in Central Texas, tours of their spaces, and chats about how the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) can best support library leadership. For this last round, Library Digital Opportunity Program Coordinator Henry Stokes accompanied me to Schulenburg Public…
As if spurred by the August heat, the tempo picked up for the second number—a dizzying duo of days in which I visited small public libraries, toured their spaces, and chatted with their leadership about how the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) could best support them. Workforce Development Consultant Maria Freed stepped up…
In July, I kicked off the first in a series of day-long turns around clusters of small public libraries to tour their spaces and chat about how the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) can best support their leadership. This round, the fancy feet of Continuing Education and Consulting Team Manager Katherine Adelberg accompanied…
As I watch the sun set from the train’s window seat and the gently rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country are replaced by the flatter terrain of the Prairie and Lakes Region, I mentally inventory my utility belt in preparation for the adventure ahead—serving as a moderator for the Get Graphic track at the…