CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF RURAL
LIBRARIANSHIP
In 1978, the Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship (CSRL) was
established in the Department of
Library Science at Clarion University
of Pennsylvania . The center is a research, publishing, consultative,
and continuing education facility. Its most recent endeavors include library
outreach and particularly bookmobile services in the United States and
overseas. Additionally, the CSRL is concerned with the development
and use of information technology in rural communities.
******************************************************
TODAY--JOIN THE ASSOCIATION
OF RURAL AND SMALL LIBRARIES
[for ONLY $39/YEAR]
******************************************************
Defining"rural:"
This is an elusive challenge, at best. The CSRL
uses the default definition of the U.S. Census Bureau, which interprets
that an urban place begins with 2,500 people, and, therefore, any community
with fewer folks is considered rural. The CSRL also utlilizes a defintion
of rural to include communities up to 25,000 people, outside of a metropolitan
area. One
will find a comparison of public library statistics by clicking on this
link.
Mission:
To extend the knowledge relative to the nature and role of rural libraries
on a national and international basis.
Objectives of the CSRL:
-
To stimulate imaginative thinking relative to
rural library services;
-
To identify problems endemic with library services--for
those currently being served and those who are unserved;
-
To provide consultative services in designing
new service patterns in rural libraries;
-
To conduct and/or coordinate research relative
to identifiable library problems;
-
To stimulate continuing education;
-
To coordinate physical and human resources which
could be lent to analyze library services; and,
-
To collect data relevant to the needs of rural libraries.
the staff (in previous times)
Activities:
-
Since 1980, the journal, Rural
Libraries, has been published twice a year. An annual subscription
is $20.00 for domestic, and $30.00 for international subscribers.
All back copies are available at $10.00/issue. One will find a listing
of the authors, articles, etc., for the last seven years of "Rural Libraries"
attached to this page.
-
The CSRL is pleased to announce a new publication,
Bookmobile
and Outreach Services, that
is being published in May and November of each year--starting in 1998.
The purpose of this journal is to improve bookmobile and outreach services
wherever they exist. Subscription costs are $20/year for domestic orders
and $30/year for those overseas. Please send requests for subscription
to the postal address at the bottom of this page or by email to the Webmaster.
One
will find the tables of content, for those issues already published, attached
to this page.
-
The CSRL is committed to supporting library outreach
services wherever they exist. In this endeavor, it has assisted the
bookmobile community in the review and reconstitution of the "National
Bookmobile Guidelines," 1999. As another example of its commitment,
the CSRL conducted an examination of bookmobile use in Pennsylvania involving
1200 respondents, in May, 1997. The results may be viewed at Bookmobile
User Survey, 1997 . Tena Wilson has provided a checklist
useful in developing a bookmobile.
-
Annually, the Great
American Bookmobile and Outreach Services Conference, is sponsored.
Many thanks to the 175 individuals, representing 36 states and two Canadian
provinces, who attended the 2003 event.The
dates for 2004 are October 13-16 and the venue will be the Radisson Hotel
Worthington, in Columbus, Ohio.
For the first time, there will be a joint conference of the Association
of Bookmobile and Outreach Services and Association
of Rural and Small Libraries.
-
To access an array of helpful
topics relating to bookmobile and outreach services from the
bkmob-l listserv, one should look here.
-
To provide a forum for discussion, the
listservs, bkmob-l and rurlib-lare maintained as a service for bookmobile/outreach
specialists and those interested in the services of rural libraries.
-
A variety of bibliographies
are available on an array of timely subjects, e.g., "School-Public Library
Cooperation," Literacy, etc.
-
The CSRL also publishes a variety of monographs,
e.g.,"A Marketing Manual for Public Libraries, " etc. This and other publications
are available at modest costs.
-
In partnership with Verizon
Inc., the CSRL hosts the Institute
for the Development of Information Technology in Rural Communities.
The Institute was established in 1996.
-
The
Rural Source,(NEW) also established in
cooperation with Bell Atlantic/Verizon Inc., is a site dedicated to the
dissemination of information about all things rural. The site contains
papers, book titles, journals (online and print), and links to all sorts
of rural sources.
-
The Institute
for the Study and Development of School Library Information Centers ,
1999, is a function of the CSRL focusing primarily on the needs of school
services throughout the United States.
-
The CSRL also cooperates with IFLA,
the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions,
and its Round Table on Mobile Libraries.
-
LS 578
-
LS581
-
Bibliography
on Rural Library Services
Contact Information:
The CSRL welcomes all inquiries. Below, please find the needed information.
-
Telephone 814-393-2014
-
FAX 814-393-2150
-
Postal address
-
Department of Library Science, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, Pennsylvania 16214
-
Electronic mail
-
General Information: vavrek@clarion.edu
or csrl@clarion.edu
-
Sales/Customer Support: csrl@clarion.edu
-
Webmaster: vavrek@clarion.edu
-
Send mail to Webmaster with questions or comments about this Web site.
Copyright © 1997. Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship, Clarion
University of Pennsylvania
Last modified: 1 December 2003