Rural and Small Libraries Interest Group

Formerly known as the Western Slope Interest Group.

Purpose: To provide the opportunity to Rural and Small Libraries for CAL members to network, collaborate, and participate in the wider CAL community.

Need: Colorado’s rural and small libraries make up a diverse section of the state that lacks representation on CAL Committees and Interest Groups due to the distance and travel difficulty to meetings that primarily take place on the front range. Rural CAL members miss out on the benefits of in-person meetings and events, including networking, idea sharing, and assuring rural library representation. The Rural and Small Libraries IG would bring the needs of rural and small libraries across Colorado to CAL and information from CAL to these rural and small libraries.

Context: To address issues particular to rural and small libraries in Colorado and foster community among these libraries and their professionals.

Strategies: Arrange meeting locations convenient to rural professionals, use technology to create connections when a meeting is not taking place, and include CAL Rural and Small Libraries representative in all planning.

Guidelines: 

1. Formal, quarterly meetings 
2. Meet at varying locations throughout rural Colorado.
3. If an in-person meeting cannot happen, a virtual meeting will occur in its place
4. Promote diversity in committee membership in terms of race, ethnicity, type of library, location, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical abilities