The Rosetta Stone of Librarianship: the Unconventional Rural or Solo Library

What is a Rosetta Stone?

It is a clue, breakthrough, or discovery that provides crucial knowledge for the solving of a puzzle or problem. This type of rural library is designed to meet the specialized needs of present-day rural life.

The backbone of librarianship can be seen in the small libraries that populate rural/urban America. Our rural or solo libraries may not be well funded, well stocked or glamorous, but they house the foundations of our national life through the contribution and preservation of some of our most beloved ideals: 

• the maintenance of the family as a social institution; 
• the cultivation of independent self-reliance; 
• and neighborliness, or "community". 

Your library in your rural community has a responsibility to your residents in a manner that the metropolitan libraries don't, and cannot emulate: that of appreciating the accumulated knowledge and experience of the past that characterizes your library user. This attitude constitutes the "eclectic" library I am always advocating on this blog. Unlike the metropolitan institution, I am persuaded that the role of the rural or solo librarian is to become a trained and equipped social scientist who enjoys working with people directly, and helps to instigate a link between what is generically defined as human capital and economic well-being.

The rural or solo librarian in an unconventional/eclectic library does his/her best to find ways to satisfy the needs of their community.

The Rosetta Stone of rural librarianship is the connection with the community in order to present programs and services that they will not only attend, but also enjoy and benefit from.

In this way, the eclectic rural library provides clues, breakthroughs, or the discovery of crucial knowledge for the solving of social, economical, national, international, healthcare and employment puzzles or problems.

So how do we make our rural or solo library our library user's Rosetta Stone?

The easy fact is simply through our carefully selected staff, carefully designed and well-thought-out services, and our user populations known here as "communities". Tapping into our human resources and local history can create a better future for our rural or solo libraries.

What I consider as the last puzzle piece in Appalachia, and in all rural communities, is the initiation of  a 'Settlement Library'. It includes the establishment of cultural community information centers in rural communities as a library outreach initiative by utilizing the very present skills and knowledge of local residents. A ‘Settlement Library’ is a trusted neighborhood think-tank, equitable source for civic thinking, and clearinghouse for community-wide resources -- and . . .

The Rosetta Stone of Librarianship

Click on keywords in the Cloud below to access simple, tried and true suggestions that will transform your rural or solo library into an Eclectic, Unconventional Settlement Library within your community.

Image: Copyright © 2004–2017 Florida Center for Instructional Technology. ClipArt ETC is a part of the Educational Technology Clearinghouse and is produced by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida.

Vision: The Prerequisite for Librarianship

Getting on the Library Road

Visionaries were invited to the table to expound their lofty ideals. In an attempt to envision the future, earnest and forward-focused men - without resistance to change - devised a plan. Based upon the most reasonable knowledge of the frail and selfish tendencies of man and governments tested and tried in due process, this experiment grew into the most articulate, comprehensive and foresighted issue/goal-based strategic plan ever adopted in all of civilization: the Constitution of the United States of America.

As a centralized planning effort, the development of long-range, clearly defined privileges, immunities and guarantees were idealized, organized and prioritized by individuals with a propensity to look toward tomorrow and the needs of tomorrow. Vision was a prerequisite to attendance at the planning table. Boldness and sacrifice fueled the vision. For these persons there was clear indication that the future was, in fact, already upon them. Whatever the plan was, it had to stick. Failure was not an option - the vision depended upon it. Therefore, scenario planning was broad giving room for trial and error to debate and negotiate with the freedom to amend as necessary: the “what if” objective in response to changing the status quo.

Plan Management Fact #1:
Without a proactive plan, a shifting and unrelenting future is out of control.

Not everything in the lives of men constitutes a plan: spontaneity is the spice of life. However, when dealing with the souls and minds of men, thoughtless action is sacrilege. Freedom of inquiry and freedom of speech are individual liberties reflecting inherent rights taken expressly from the very planning utilized in the development of a young nation. Libraries exist to provide intellectual freedom unbiased and unfettered to all peoples: “The role of libraries in America today is shaped by our constitutional legacy” (American Library Association, 2006, p. 3).

It would appear, certainly, that in the changing environment of library science and information services, the future is now and the necessity to plan is as relevant today as it was when adopting and developing plans - strategic in nature - for a new nation and the privileges of its citizenry. A plan is a representative idea which identifies a culture; formulates an identity; develops goals and objectives; strategies and actions; implementing the concept of realistic change; and the freedom to monitor, evaluate and adjust as necessary.

Plan Management Fact #2:
A plan should lead to the development of programs and operations enabling growth and flexibility for debate and negotiation.

Just as those set forth in the Constitution of the United States, core library values require a simple definition. A strategic vision, set in place, encourages the future of library placement within the community and prepares library staff for implementing new concepts and ideals toward a specific mission. Strategic acting becomes part of an internal examination of services and policies affecting customers and staff, and the identification of external trends.

Plan Management Fact #3:
A planning document should become today’s design for tomorrow’s action.

As one of the founder's of one of the greatest plans ever devised, Benjamin Franklin was a visionary who is quoted as saying, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." The same plan used to create a nation is still effective today in knowledge-based, rights-oriented information service organizations. The plan and planning process is the most basic function upon which other principles of informed and educated change are based, and those which laid the foundation for a new vision of government upon the earth.

Vision is a planning process prerequisite for librarianship on today's library road.

Image: http://www.chuukaku.com/labels/professional%20development.html

Library Services are Priceless

Moving toward what your library seeks to become.

At a small rural library, the Settlement Library Project discussed strategies to enhance library visibility, service response goals and objectives, and increase user-ability and user-rates. As a circuit-out-rider promoting an eclectic form of librarianship in Appalachia - outside the metropolitan "settlements" - 'Fotched-On' Librarian was there.

As a result of community apathy and economic difficulties, an executive summary for this library focused upon an immediate objective of creating a space in which the community would want to visit. Strategic aims included library board education and training toward advocacy, fundraising, and implementation of library policies. In addition, community focused customer service instruction, innovative services, and creative uses of technology to communicate knowledge were suggested.
As a means to bring the vision to fruition, networking toward a community bridge through partnering and contracting with local resource agencies and community resource individuals; building an educational advancement service through the initiating of basic education programs; building a recreational and historical collection offering local culture through plugging into resident authors and artisans; and building a positive, open, and friendly personality and public image through creative promotional methods were presented as a means to promote this library as an essential communty source.

Embracing the idea of engagement, the Settlement Library Project initiative sought to offer this small rural library relevant and useful suggestions for custom tailored information services equipping the residents of this community.

After all, a library's strategy is the bridge to its future.

The Settlement Library Project from The Settlement Library Project

Special Libraries

What is 'Fotched-On' ?
'Fotched-On' is a term used by mountain folk when referring to Settlement School teachers who left the comforts of home and hearth to navigate uncharted clan-type communities within the Appalachia region at the turn of the 20th century. The actual phrase is "fetched in;" however, regional dialect overtook the pronounciation and configured it into "fotched on." The phrase refers to these teachers having been "fetched" from the city - or outside the settlements - and placed in rural, isolated communities within the region to create educational outreach programs.

'Fotched-On' is used here as a phrase exemplifying a modern concept of maverick librarians who promote an eclectic form of librarianship. Through moving out of metropolitan areas - and the traditional concepts of librarianship - a 'fotched-on' librarian is one who is "called-out" as a type of circuit-out-rider into remote, rural regions which do not have close proximity to a library system. A 'fotched-on' librarian is one who either promotes, establishes, or builds up a non-traditional information center for communities which may or may not have existing library services available.

This blog is being designed to indicate and establish an ongoing interest in special libraries, the special needs of communities requiring customized library services, and the solo or one person information professional who asserts the marketing and advocacy necessary for the creation, implementation, and survival of these unique and specialized emerging units of the modern library system.

More about 'Fotched-On' is available at this link:
http://www.ket.org/settlement/setschools_01.html
This image is available at:
http://maqonline.org/