University of Arizona

The University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science’s (SIRLS) Small and Rural Library Scholars project is a collaboration with Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records (ASLAPR) on a planning grant to gather data and build knowledge about the needs of Arizona’s small and rural libraries and the communities they serve in order to align recruitment, retention, mentoring/advising, and placement with curriculum and services. The partners will develop survey instruments for, and communicate with, library directors and staff; create outreach and communication channels for recruitment, advising/mentoring, and job placement; and align new programs to the needs of small and rural libraries and cultural heritage organizations. The project will enable SIRLS to have well-defined and supportable needs information and full stakeholder buy-in.