Innovative Lessons from Our Small and Rural Public Libraries

Public libraries that serve community populations under 25,000 and/or rural areas make up more than three quarters of the total libraries in the United States, and yet are rarely featured in professional media. Small and rural libraries were the first to offer services during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and, in many cases, continue to outpace their large, urban counterparts in providing access to their communities. This article explores the innovations, collaborations, and challenges of small and rural libraries from the personal experiences of five library professionals.