{"id":19311,"date":"2026-10-22T19:14:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T19:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_7\/?p=19311"},"modified":"2026-10-22T19:14:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T19:14:32","slug":"association-of-rural-and-small-libraries-conference-report-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.nnlm.gov\/region_7\/2026\/10\/22\/association-of-rural-and-small-libraries-conference-report-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Association of Rural and Small Libraries Conference Report Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may remember that earlier this year, NNLM\u2019s National Training Office (NTO) and Region 1 offered professional development awards to attend the Association of Rural and Small Libraries Conference<\/a> held this year in Montgomery, AL in September.<\/p>\n

\"Jessi<\/a>

Jessi Van Der Volgen (NTO), Shanna Hastie (R2), and Margie Sheppard (NTO) representing NNLM at the ARSL Conference<\/p><\/div>\n

We are thrilled to provide this award to rural and small libraries, which play a vital role in connecting their communities with trusted health information. By supporting attendance at the ARSL Conference, we hope participants will gain new knowledge, skills, and connections that strengthen their ability to help patrons access reliable health information and ultimately improve the health and well-being of their communities<\/p>\n

–Jessi Van Der Volgen, Assistant Director, NTO<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The award covered travel expenses and conference registration, ensuring that awardees could bring valuable insights back to their communities.<\/p>\n

\"Jessi<\/a>

Jessi Van Der Volgen, NTO Assistant Director, presenting at the ARSL pre-conference.<\/p><\/div>\n

Award recipients also participated in a pre-conference training session, Healthy Roots, Strong Communities: Health Information Resources and Programming <\/em>which was taught by Jessi and Margie Sheppard both from NTO. This specialized workshop allowed recipients to earn continuing education credits toward a Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS)<\/a>, equipping them with certified skills to help patrons find and navigate trustworthy medical and public health resources.<\/p>\n

NTO and Region 1 selected twenty outstanding library professionals out of a highly competitive pool of applicants from across the United States. They were selected for their dedication to community service.<\/p>\n

There were two recipients from Region 7:<\/p>\n