2026 Overcoming Obstacles: Enhancing Access to Professional Development for Solo Librarians Grant Program
Grant Program Overview
The Overcoming Obstacles: Enhancing Access to Professional Development for Solo Librarians Grant Program will identify and address the barriers that prevent solo librarians, especially those in small and rural communities, from effectively accessing professional development. Through a planning grant, the team will gather insights from subject matter experts, facilitate focus groups, and conduct a national survey to understand the real-world obstacles.
Through the hard work of knowledgeable advisors, focus group members, and the ARSL office, this project will help pave the way to expanding access to training for solo and minimally staffed libraries, guiding library organizations in designing targeted programs that ensure more equitable professional development opportunities and access.
Focus Group Application
Available to Solo or Solo-ish Library Workers in the United States.
Library workers from across the country are invited to apply to participate in a focus group that will help shape a new national survey exploring the obstacles solo library workers face. This is a unique opportunity to share your experiences, highlight the challenges you face, and ensure that the voices of solo librarians are heard and represented in meaningful ways.
One 90-minute virtual get together with each focus group will take place via Zoom during the second or third week of March.
The participants must be able to attend the 2026 ARSL Conference from September 16-19 in Montgomery, Alabama. Conference registration and a stipend to support travel expenses (hotel, flights, etc.) will be covered. Funding is also included to provide staff coverage at your library while you are traveling to the Conference. While participant attendance on Thursday and Friday is mandatory, we encourage everyone to arrive on Wednesday and stay through Saturday afternoon to enjoy the full conference experience.
Applications open January 27 - February 10. Recipients will receive a notification from the ARSL office by the end of February.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [RE-259035-OLS-25]
Grant Program Participants
This effort will be directed by a team of knowledgeable advisors and experts in this area. Learn more about the advisory team below:
Focus Group Participants
- Alison Baitz - Butterfield Library, VT
- Rogier van Bakel - Somesville Library Association, ME
- Jonatha Basye - Van Meter Public Library, IA
- Melissa Beaulieu - Baldwin Memorial Library, VT
- Jennifer Best - Tiptonville Public Library, TN
- Robin Berger - Grand Isle Free Library, VT
- Emilie Braunel - Plum Lake Public Library, WI
- Ruth Bernstein - New Haven Community Library, VT
- Tiffany Coulson - Mattawa Public Library, WA
- Jillian Fleischman - Kershaw County Library, SC
- Erin George - Gay Kimball Library, NH
- Finn Guttery - Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, TX
- Madeline Helser - South Londonderry Free Library, VT
- Shana Hickman - Baxter Memorial Library, VT
- Amber Hunt - Guilford Free Library, VT
- Juanita Iniguez - Colusa County Free Library, CA
- Susann Kreitzer - Wyoming Indian Schools, WY
- Catherine Macri - Soldiers Memorial Library, ME
- Casey Martin - Southport Memorial Library, ME
- Rebekka Mateyk - Sanbornton Public Library, NH
- Sarah McLauchlin - Rollinsford Public Library, NH
- Hanalorraine Miller - Rockland School Community Library, ID
- Catherine Nevin - Friend Memorial Public Library, ME
- Sara Newell - Effingham Public Library, NH
- Jennifer Pratt - Houston Alternative Education Center, MS
- Caroline Pynes - Chichester Town Library, NH
- Chantel Rindt - Lillian Tear Library, KS
- Lorrie Sanborn - Hartland Public Library, ME
- Carla Small - Bingham Union Library, ME
- Melissa Small - Readfield Community Library, ME
- Abigail Smith - Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library, MN
- Amanda Vanderpool - Silver City Library, IA
- Gisi Vella - Morton Memorial Library, NY
- Christine Walton - Arvin A brown Public Library, VT
- Laina Warsavage - Orford Social Library, NH
- Kate Zoerb - Van Buren Public Library, IN
Publications
About the Institute of Museum of Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and X.
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