ARSL Leadership Institute

About the Institute

The ARSL Leadership Institute was a grant-funded pilot program that sought to provide timely, relevant leadership development opportunities for rural and small library workers. It was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Why This Leadership Institute?

According to the 2017 American Library Association paper, roughly one-third of all U.S. public libraries serve areas with populations of 2,500 or fewer people. Of these, two-thirds of library directors have not earned a Master's in Library Science.

The average ARSL member comes from a library with fewer than three employees, and the average salary for a library director is $28,508. This salary can significantly impact the ability to recruit and hire staff with leadership or managerial experience. Even when libraries have strong leadership, the small number of staff limits the ability to grow new leaders internally.

When staff from rural or small libraries participated in leadership institutes designed for larger libraries, they often reported that the content and examples did not directly address the issues they face. The Leadership Institute was created to fill that gap with a tailored program accessible to the professionals who need it most.

Leadership Plan for Participants

Learning Formats

ARSL Leadership Institute Celebrates Graduating Cohort

November 14, 2025 – Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL)

The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) celebrates the graduation of its second cohort from the ARSL Leadership Institute. This transformative program, funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), was designed to develop the next generation of leaders in rural and small libraries across North America.

Read the full press release

2024–25 Cohort

30 graduates representing rural and small library communities across the United States and Canada.

Abi Avery Covert, MI, USA	Andrea Eckerson East Helena, MT, USA	Brian Kendall Dardanelle, AR, USA
Brooke Bourgeois St. Louis, MS, USA	Charlie Oribio Dayton, WA, USA	Cayde Copeland Belpre, OH, USA
Danielle Payton Herriman Okotoks, AB, Canada	Emily Nicole Ott St. Marys, OH, USA	Erin Colleen Coughlin Ankeny, IA, USA
Jane Catherine Gagne Suffolk, VA, USA	Jean I Markert La Conner, WA, USA	Jessie Rose Ansari Nederland, CO, USA
Kim Deshazor Matthews Danville, VA, USA	Kristy Miller Smith Scottdale, PA, USA	Laranda Dawn Bailey Virden, MB, Canada
Maddie Tedford Sharpe Devils Lake, ND, USA	Manny Pasillas Jr Winnsboro, TX, USA	Maggie Moore Chillicothe, MO, USA
Melissa A. Beaulieu Wells River, VT, USA	Melissa Joy Duncan Columbus, MS, USA	Miriam Adrianne Sisson Drain, OR, USA
Nancy Ramirez Le Mars, IA, USA	Rachel Lunden Burlington, WA, USA	Rebecca Shelton Lexington, SC, USA
Ruth DeSouza Wilson Pawnee, OK, USA	Sammie Betler Dunnville, KY, USA	Sara Kathryn Newell Effingham, NH, USA
Sean Everette Gantt Dolores, CO, USA	Shone M. Ellis Butte Falls, OR, USA	Tanner Dominick Ames Winnemucca, NV, USA

2021–22 Cohort

The inaugural cohort of the ARSL Leadership Institute.

Ali Iserman Iowa, USA	Amajah Langford South Carolina, USA	Amanda Doherty Illinois, USA
Angela Karen Ohio, USA	Angela Watkins New Mexico, USA	Annie Bowers Washington, USA
Arthur Newman Virginia, USA	Bree Drapa Vermont, USA	Deana Jones North Carolina, USA
Erykah Condon Maine, USA	Jana Slisher Michigan, USA	Jennifer Coleman Pennsylvania, USA
Jenny White Nebraska, USA	Jessica Anderson Nevada, USA	Joshua Olsen Washington, USA
Kameron Mitchell Nevada, USA	Kathy Wilkinson Colorado, USA	Kayla Morris West Virginia, USA
LaShunda Williams Alabama, USA	LaTonya Jones Arkansas, USA	Leticia Snow Minnesota, USA
Lisa Thompson Virginia, USA	Margaret Woodruff Virginia, USA	Mellissa Clark Georgia, USA
Meredith Fletcher Ohio, USA	Natasja Williams Alaska, USA	Shayne Phillips Illinois, USA
Sherry Aragon New Mexico, USA	Tayler Goodwin North Carolina, USA	Victoria Blackmer Illinois, USA

Instructors & Advisors

Core Team

Kathy Zappitello Project Lead & Core Instructor Conneaut Public Library, OH

Jennie Garner Project Advisor & ARSL Past President North Liberty Library, IA

Kate Laughlin ARSL Executive Director Seattle, WA

Megan Fontaine ARSL Assistant Director Seattle, WA

Instructor

Kawanna Bright, PhD Assistant Professor, East Carolina University, NC

Advisors

Anthony S. Chow, PhD Director & Professor, School of Information, San José State University, CA	Chance Hunt Associate Teaching Professor, iSchool, University of Washington, Seattle, WA	Janine Miller Coordinator of Training & Development, Arkansas State Library
Jennifer "JP" Lee Peterson Artful Gatherer, Facilitator of Community Connection and Learning, Seattle, WA	Lisa Shaw Small/Rural Libraries & Workforce Development Specialist, Maine State Library, ME	Mary Hirsh Deputy Director, Public Library Association, Chicago, IL
Meredeth Fletcher Communications Assistant, Community Library, Ohio	Shamichael Hallman Director of Civic Health & Economic Opportunity, Urban Libraries Council, DC

Application Information (Archived)

Note: Applications for the 2024–25 Leadership Institute cohort are now closed. This application information is preserved here for reference only.

Ideal Candidate Qualities

• Dedication to service in rural and small communities
• Commitment to ARSL's Organizational Values
• Enthusiasm for learning and professional growth
• Interest in expanding library service to reach diverse and/or under-served communities
• Aspirations to lead in their library and community
• Openness to change in themselves, their library, and their community
• Thorough understanding of the commitment required to complete the Institute program
• Support from supervisors and/or organizational leadership for their participation

Priority Consideration

Priority consideration was given to applicants who:

• Were currently serving in new library leadership positions, or anticipated attaining their first library leadership position in the near future
• Had worked in libraries for less than 10 years
• Did not hold a Master's in Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree (or equivalent)
• Self-identified as members of communities that have experienced marginalization and/or are under-represented within the library profession

Participant Time Commitment

Participants were expected to dedicate a substantial amount of time to leadership development activities during the Institute's 18-month duration. This included:

• Approximately 5 hours per month of asynchronous/independent preparation and active synchronous participation in online learning sessions
• In-person attendance at the 2024 and 2025 ARSL Conferences, including participation as a session presenter during the 2025 Conference
• Development and implementation of a unique, self-guided Leadership Project within their organization during Year 2 of the program
• Active engagement with one or more professional mentors
• Quarterly supplemental professional development provided by ARSL

Application Requirements

Applicants were required to submit the following as part of their application packet:

• 1 document containing their Applicant Statements
• 1 copy of their current professional resume
• 2 Letters of Recommendation from supervisors, organizational leadership, professional colleagues, or community leaders

All documents were required to be submitted as PDF only, with 1-inch margins, 12-pt Times New Roman font, and the applicant's full name in each file name.

Applicant Statements

Three statements were required in response to the following prompts:

Archived April 2026 by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL)  ·  IMLS Award ID RE-246425-OLS-20