 Good morning and welcome to the seventh annual big talk from small libraries This is big talk from small libraries 2018. I am your host Krista Porter. I am the library development director here at the Nebraska Library Commission Hosting of this online this free online conference from right here in the center of the country Big talks from small libraries is an event Highlighting small and rural libraries across the across the country both the United States and Canada. We have presenters for this morning This is a free one-day conference. We're going to be here all day today together. I will be hosting with you throughout the day Each of our speakers is from a small library or works directly with small libraries for our purposes for this conference our definition of small libraries is a population-served or a For a university full-time enrollment of a 10,000 or less We are talking small We have a great Agenda for you today. We've got some public libraries some academics universities colleges and even some presentations about K-12 schools Grouping together with other libraries. So we have a really great range of sessions today We have 750 minute sessions on the hour and then a noontime lightning rounds where we will have five really quick One two three four five ten minute quick sessions. So That is what is coming up for the day the login information the login link you have used today You can use throughout the day. You can stick around and watch Be with us for the entire day if you like or you can pop in and out as you like if you can only attend a certain session Are only interested in a certain session use that same link to come and go as you please The entire day is being recorded So it will be posted later on to our website in our archives It will take a little bit of time to edit down that information, but it will be posted on to the website later If you have any questions throughout the day There is a questions section in your go-to webinar interface if you were here early You saw some slides showing that use that question section type in there for any of our presentation presenters Ask type in there and I will grab your questions. I'm monitoring that here on my computer and pass it on to our speakers for the day Big talk from small libraries is Sponsored by both the Nebraska Library Commission and the Association for Rural and small libraries together we put together this event and host it and promote it throughout the year and joining us on the line today from ARSL is Judy Calhoun Good morning, Judy. Good morning, Krista and Judy is the Previous ARSL president correct past president. Yes, that's president ARSL correct Julie Elmore is on the line as well. Good morning, Julie. Good morning And you are the 2018 conference share for the ARSL conference coming up. I am September. I believe correct Yes, September 13th. Okay And also we have Meredith Wickham. Good morning, Meredith. Good morning. I believe you are membership chair I am membership in marketing make sure from marketing. All right So I'm just gonna hand over to you guys to take away and tell us a bit about what's going on with ARSL and the upcoming conference I'm welcome people this morning before we get started Okay, thank you, Krista. Well, we are very excited to be here again and help sponsor this wonderful event I am standing in today for our current president Karen Hickson and our incoming president Lisa Lewis Both who cannot be here today. So and with me today as you said is our conference chair Julie Elmore and our M&M chair Meredith Wickham. So we'll get started ARSL was first established in 1982 ARSL's home base was at Clarion University in Pennsylvania until 2007 Then became an independent organization with an expanded board and committee structure Our first conference as an independent organization and took place in Sacramento, California in 2008 and since then we've made a concerted effort to move the conference around the country each year Two of the Association's most popular benefits are the website and the listserv Members have access to a wide variety of rural information and news in one location on ARSL's website a one-stop shop for all things rural and our listserv allows members to regularly share their success stories and Engage in group problem-solving on rural library issues Our online members only roundtables are a great way to take conversations off of the listserv for a more in-depth discussion on various topics Whether you are brand-new to libraries or a seasoned administrator We all know that we can learn from each other our members willingness to share ideas and skills along with their Expertise that we all carry over from whatever our previous experience were Makes us a wonderful opportunity to learn and to improve our library skills 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 fun Our newsletter is another way we interact with our membership by sharing tips and articles from featured libraries about ways that they have been successful And everything from policy writing to grants and programs We use it as a platform to share organizational news and opportunities with each other We pride ourselves and our commitment to providing a conference that is 100 percent applicable to those in small and rural libraries our sessions are Selected specifically to be Practical and full of reputable ideas that you can readily Apply when you get back home Much like big talk for small libraries. We are focused on the needs of small and rural communities But along with focus programs ARSL's annual Conference provides an opportunity for face-to-face networking at a very reasonable price ARSL is incredibly affordable. You will not find a better deal anywhere for your membership dollars With rates beginning at $15 a year your membership provides access to professional development opportunities advice from the listserv Ample ways to network member roundtables and of course many ways to volunteer together And just announced to our membership last week a little sneak peek of our newest benefit ARSL membership now allows you to join the library of congress's credit union To where you can now imagine having your own visa card with a picture of the beautiful library of congress building on it Oh nice. I like that Probably the thing that we hear the most when we ask people what they like best about ARSL is the warm and welcoming nature of our members This is a group of people who are all about doing what it takes to serve their communities and you guys know that I'm sure the people who are listening today. No matter the obstacles Um, we're about serving our communities Relevant ideas are shared and lasting friendships are formed not only at our annual conference But also on our listserv So many of us walk away from our first ARSL conference feeling like we have finally met our tribe I know I did it's a wonderful way to meet people who understand the unique challenges And special joys of working in rural and small libraries Our board members are open to our members and we encourage participation by the membership The board meets every other month and various committees meet on the off months The dates and links to the zoom online meeting is posted on our homepage ARSL is a volunteer led organization and the board is classified as a working board Meaning they spend a number of hours of their own time working hard to make ARSL the best it can be Whether they are chairing a committee working on policies or doing other work of the organization We are a growing organization With over 850 members and a record number of conference attendees We are able to become more involved with national partners This year we worked with IFLA the international federation of library associations On their global vision project with web junction on their small libraries create smart spaces project With the young adult library services association on their future ready with the library project And with the chief officers of state libraries association and the institute of museum and library services on measures that matter a national initiative As you can see this is a great time to become involved with ARSL We hope that you'll be able to join us in springfield illinois this year september 13th through 15th When we will be linking libraries in the land of lincoln our location this year is along the historic route 66 It is also home to a frank Lloyd right home And it's also only a quarter mile from the abraham lincoln museum and presidential library And yes, we will have discount tickets available To tour that facility early bird member rate for conference is expected to be around $275 which will include all but your two evening meals And we are also very excited to announce that our keynote author speaker this year is elizabeth burr Other exciting events will soon be shared on our website and on our facebook page Registration and housing will open around april 3rd. So we hope to see you all in the land of lincoln this fall All right. Thank you. And and there you are Yes, don't need to again But we just want to thank everybody for the opportunity to share the association of rural and small libraries with you And if you're not a member we hope to welcome you to our organization soon And if you are a member we thank you for your support and we hope to see you in september at the conference In the meantime, we wish you a great day of learning with stable internet connections during this fantastic online conference today Yes, across your fingers that we'll have no problems there from our end Thank you very much, judy julie and meredith. That was a great welcome. Um, I will I would definitely um put in my two cents about ARSL as well. I have attended the conference myself and it is definitely it is It is small um I don't know if it's even smaller than some other conferences. I've been to size-wise, but it just feels like it is Like you're saying it's your people your tribe and um, if you are small rural and I and in any of those and not just Not just real but just small even in a larger city or anything. There's something there for everyone. It's a great event And I highly recommend if you're anywhere nearby Can get there can drive there can um Fly whatever try and make it there Swim we'll take you anywhere you can get there Absolutely Guys actually that did come through um the dues to join um ARSL. What are they based on are they based on salary? Is there just said um, how is that? Done, I believe there are salary levels. Um, and also based on whether you're retired or a student or right Right a trustee Or a working professional in libraries. All right. All right, awesome So um, look at look on the tech check out their website for more details awesome