 Good morning and welcome to Big Talk from Small Libraries which is produced by the Nebraska Library Commission and IMLS and Cosponsored by ARSL. My name is Donna Bryce. I'm the current president of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries with me today to talk briefly about ARSL our Jet Cofort who's the Vice President, President-Elect, and Judy Calhoun who's the chair of our 2015 ARSL conference. Good morning. ARSL was first established in 1982. Our home base was at Clarion University in Pennsylvania at that time until 2007 when we became an independent organization with an expanded board and committee structure. Our first conference as an independent organization took place in Sacramento, California in 2008. Since then a concerted effort has been made to move the conference around the country each year. Our board represents the wide range of locations all across the country. Additionally, we include individuals who are involved in various aspects of library work from front line, small library directors to consultants, library support organizations, and state library staff. This allows us to tap into expertise in all sorts of subjects and to offer this expertise to our members. Our members frequently tell us it is, tell us it is like coming home when they find our organization. Just like Big Talk, we are here to support small libraries. We are frequently asked, how small do I have to be to become a member? Our answer is if you think you are small or rural, you probably are. Our new website ARSL.INFO is full of great resources for folks in small and rural libraries. You can learn not only about the organization in our popular annual conference, but also access news about our featured member libraries. You may also come here to print or order our brochure to search our newest feature a listing of library jobs in small and rural communities. Our board meetings are open to our members and we encourage participation by the membership. The board meets every other month and the various board committees meets on the off months. Members are sent an invitation to participate in the board meetings via the listserv. It is important to remember that we are a working board and our members spend a number of hours of their own time working hard to make ARSL the best it can be. The ARSL board is made up of practicing librarians from small libraries or those who serve small libraries. Every board member is a volunteer who puts in countless hours on behalf of the association. The board spends two days working on planning for the future when we meet face-to-face every year at our annual conference. Probably the best, probably the thing we hear most when we ask people what they like about ARSL is the warm and welcoming nature of our members. This is a group of people who are all doing what it takes to serve their communities, no matter what the obstacle. Relevant ideas are shared and lasting friendships are formed, not only at our annual conference, but also on our listserv. You won't find a better deal anywhere for your membership dollars. We understand small budgets and we choose our fees to fit your budget. Our rates just start at $15 a year. You will receive an online newsletter, access to our listserv, and a discount for the annual conference. One of the best ways for you to find out what ARSL is all about is to join us and become a volunteer. Volunteers can help in a number of ways, including participating in committee work, representing ARSL at local and state gatherings, and being a part of the conference. Our website has information on volunteering, but you have to be a member to join the fund. One of the major benefits of membership is the opportunity to get involved. As an entirely volunteer-led organization, we need committed individuals, both on our working board and as volunteers. Our committee structure allows opportunities for folks to utilize their skills to help ARSL with PR needs, program development, conference planning, and much more. Some examples of volunteer help we have received include people to take the ARSL table display to their local and state conferences and meetings, key contacts to help us pass along useful ARSL news to local listservs, those who work on the website, make promotional materials, help write our newsletter, and individuals who pass along the best practices they find across the country. We pride ourselves and our commitment to providing a conference that is 100% applicable to those in small and rural libraries. Our sessions are selected specifically to be hands-on practical learning opportunities that you can readily apply back home. Much like Big Talk for small libraries, we are focused on the needs of small and rural libraries. In 2007, after many years of hosting the annual conference in Columbus, Ohio, the board made the decision to move the conference around the country. The California State Library offered to host in Sacramento in 2008 and what great hosts they were. The conference was well attended and helped confirm the decision to try locations all around the country. This map shows our past locations as well as our plans for the future. This is how excited we are to be hosting the conference in our part of the country this year. I tried to get them to jump, but they wouldn't. We truly hope you will join us in Little Rock September 30th through October 3rd for a conference experience you won't soon forget. Our affordable pricing includes all but two meals and rates are posted on our website. News about keynote speakers and other exciting events will soon be shared soon in our March newsletter and you can always watch for emails or view our website as detail unfolds. We found a great venue at the Marriott in the River Market District in downtown Little Rock. The River Market District is located in the heart of Little Rock on the banks of the Arkansas River and will entice your senses with rich entertainment, dining, shopping, and cultural experiences. The River Rail Trolley System goes all over the river market and the downtown Little Rock for the affordable price of $1 per ride. The conference committee is working hard at organizing an exciting tour that includes the Clinton Presidential Library Center. We hope you'll join us. Each year, ARCell gives away three conference scholarships to those who want to come to the conference for the first time. This program has allowed individuals interested in ARCell to learn more about without making a financial commitment. It has resulted in some truly enthusiastic new ARCell members. Librarians are creative people and those from small communities are wizards when it comes to finding the most cost effective way to get things done. Whether you carpool, organize a bus, share a room, or whatever, we truly hope to see you in Little Rock this October. Well here we are, along with our contact information. We are happy to take questions, visit with you about our membership, conference, or whatever. Feel free to get a hold of us anytime. Thank you very much and enjoy the conference.