Community Engagement for Libraries

Library Related (Oregon)

• Oregon Library Association (OLA)- OLA offers advocacy, education, leadership, and collaboration to strengthen Oregon's libraries
• Oregon Humanities Mini Grants for Rural Libraries
• Libraries of Eastern Oregon (LEO)- LEO is a nonprofit organization empowering 39 public library systems in Eastern Oregon to function collaboratively. They provide shared resources, programming, and support to enhance library services in rural communities.
• Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service (CCRLS)- CCRLS is a library cooperative serving residents in several Oregon counties, including rural areas. They coordinate services among member libraries, offering a cohesive system that enhances resource sharing and access.
• Roundhouse Foundation 

Support programs that inspire creativity and connect people with each other and their sense of place to ensure sustainability and economic success for Oregon’s rural communities.

Library Related (National)

• American Library Association (ALA)- General library support, advocacy, and professional development.
  • American Library Association's Small & Rural Libraries Center
• American Indian Library Association (AILA) – Advocacy, networking, and best practices for serving Indigenous communities.
• Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL)- Support for rural and small libraries.
• Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) – Support for Indigenous cultural institutions.
• EveryLibrary- Advocacy for libraries and library funding. 
• International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum (IILF) – Global network of Indigenous librarians.
• National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM)-  Health-related resources for libraries.
• Public Library Association (PLA)- Supporting libraries to meet community needs, including rural libraries.
• Rural Library Sustainability Network- Networking and sustainability for rural libraries.

General 

• Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) - Supporting rural communities with tools for development and engagement.
• National Rural Assembly (NRA) - Advocating for rural communities and promoting collaboration.
• National Civic League- Engaging citizens in democratic decision-making at the local level, especially in rural areas.
• National Rural Health Association (NRHA)- Improving health access and outcomes in rural communities.
• Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) – Research and resources on Indigenous studies.

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  Last updated 8/27/25

• Abu, R., Grace, M., & Carroll, M. (2023). The Role of the Rural Public Library in Community Development and Empowerment. International Journal of Community Development and Management Studies, 2023(1), 1-15. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288657231_The_Role_of_the_Rural_Public_Library...
• Chigwada, J. & Ngulube, P. (2023). Librarians' Role in the Preservation and Dissemination of Indigenous Knowledge. IFLA Journal. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03400352231217270
• Harris, S., & McClure, C. R. (2023). Rural Libraries Across America Continue to Expand Programs and Resources. Institute of Museum and Library Services. https://www.imls.gov/news/rural-libraries-across-america-continue-expand-programs-and-resources
• Harris, S., & McClure, C. R. (2023). Rural Libraries Implementing Walking Groups or Other Health Promotion Programs. Journal of Rural Health, 39(1), 45-52. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10544451/
• Harris, S., & McClure, C. R. (2023).  Agriculture-Based Community Engagement in Rural Libraries. Library & Information Science Research, 45(1), 1-8. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/09610006211015788
• Harris, S., & McClure, C. R. (2023). Small and Rural Libraries Transforming Communities: A Discourse Analysis of Media Coverage. Library Quarterly, 93(2), 123-145. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/730467
• Howard, V. (2023). Connecting with Community: The Importance of Community Engagement in Rural Public Library Systems. Proceedings of the Canadian Association for Information Science Conference. https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/ojs.cais-acsi.ca/index.php/cais-asci/article/view/936/834
• Multiple Authors. (2021). Analysis of Anti-Racism, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Initiatives in LIS. Reference Services Review. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/rsr-07-2021-0032/full/html
• Multiple Authors. (2023). Enhancing Stewardship of Indigenous Peoples' Data, Information, and Knowledge in Libraries and Archives. Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/938211
• Ranger, M. M. (2023). Engaging with Indigenous Practices: Inclusive Pedagogy. College & Research Libraries News. https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/26144
• Reid, Heather. (2016). The Importance of Community Engagement in Rural Public Library Systems. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307622440_Connecting_with_Community...
• SAGE Campus. (2023). Sustaining the Anti-Racist Library: Takeaways from Charleston. https://campus.sagepub.com/blog/sustaining-the-anti-racist-library-takeaways-from-charleston
• University of Illinois School of Information Sciences. (2024). Library Trends Examines 'Indigenous Librarianship' in Issue and Webinar. https://ischool.illinois.edu/news-events/news/2024/10/library-trends-examines-indigenous-librarianship-issue-and-webinar