Rural Public Library Assets: A Multi-Classification Study

摘要

Rural public libraries hold economic, cultural and social capital assets in trust for their communities. This study combines public data provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to (1) conduct a multi-classification study of rural public library assets to reveal differences in asset structures, (2) explore the implications of those differences on rural public library agency in the context of community development initiatives, (3) investigate differences in rural public library asset structures over time and (4) comment on sustainability issues surrounding those asset structures. Initial results indicate that even the smallest, most remote rural public libraries are positioned to ignite the creation of new community assets while connecting their communities to external revenue sources.