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

Founding Pilot Team

The Institute was designed and launched in 2020 by a founding project team: Kate Laughlin (ARSL Executive Director, Primary Contact and Grant Administrator), Kieran Hixon (2017–2018 ARSL Past President and Technology & Digital Initiatives Consultant at the Colorado State Library, Curriculum Co-Designer and Project Director), Sharon Morris, MLIS, PhD (Director of Library Development, Colorado State Library, Curriculum Co-Designer), and Kathy Zappitello (ARSL President 2020–2021, Liaison to the ARSL Board). Their work laid the foundation for everything the Institute went on to become.

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

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