Tyler Hahn, Midwest Regional Representative

Cherokee Public Library, Cherokee, Iowa


Professional Background

I am the Cherokee Public Library Director in Northwestern Iowa. I am also a member of the Iowa Governor's STEM Council and have been recognized as a "STEM Gem." I was recently named one of Library Journal's 2024 Movers and Shakers for my focus on building community capacity, promoting taxpayer education, and supporting small and rural libraries. 

Starting in a small academic library at a community college, I learned the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness. Small academic libraries face much of the same budgetary strife as small and rural libraries. As a youth services librarian, I gained insights into the needs of young readers and the critical role libraries play in youth development and community engagement.Headshot of Tyler Hahn

As a director, I oversee all aspects of library operations, which has reinforced my belief in collaboration and mentorship. I have benefited from mentors who guided me through challenges, and I am committed to mentoring new librarians locally and across the state, fostering a supportive network that promotes professional development and best practices.

I hold a BA from the University of Iowa, and I'm currently working on my graduate degree in Public Policy).

What inspired you to get involved with the board?

Truly, ARSL is a force within the library world because of the amazing small and rural librarians who support ARSL's values of accessibility, responsive service, and intellectual freedom within their communities.

Serving on the ARSL board has been a natural extension of working directly with rural patrons and seeing their unique challenges and untapped potential. I became involved because I wanted to advocate for often-overlooked rural libraries, share successful strategies we've developed, and learn from other communities facing similar circumstances.

One of the proud moments was launching the ARSL advocacy resource center on ARSL's website. I was the co-chair of that committee when that project went live, and I know it was a boon to many small and rural librarians looking for resources and guidance on a variety of topics. 

I have worked with the ARSL office team to have conversations with the IMLS for years. We were able to share small and rural libraries' struggles in applying for federal funding and create a more equitable pathway for grantmaking for the libraries we serve. I also serve on the Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) grants team, which aim to create more accessible spaces for small and rural libraries. I have heard hundreds of stories from small libraries about how they create a positive and inclusive space with community members for all. 
 

Why is the mission of the Association for Rural & Small Libraries important to you? 

ARSL's mission matches many of my own professional endeavors within librarianship, and I have used these same principles within my community, witnessing the library transform the outlook on life for many of those in my community and beyond. I too see this in ARSL, as a member for over five years, but also as someone who has served within leadership capacities for the organization.

"Looking ahead, ARSL has tremendous potential to strengthen rural communities through their libraries, especially as small towns face evolving challenges."

A compelling vision for ARSL's future would focus on helping rural libraries become true centers of community resilience and growth. This could mean expanding digital equity initiatives to bridge technological gaps, developing innovative resource-sharing models that enable small libraries to punch above their weight, and creating robust professional development pathways for rural library staff who often wear many hats.

 

What are your favorite library programs and books or genres?

I'm a huge manga fiend and work with many libraries in Iowa to help purchase and develop collections. I'm also a fan of short stories and anthologies. The Wildcards series, edited by George R.R. Martin, is one of my favorites. I also do a lot of purchasing for our state ebook consortium, so I read quite a bit of nonfiction.


In my community, I work on cold case programming, and we were able to solve the case of a man who disappeared in 1981 under mysterious circumstances. 

 

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