Free Rural Library Summit

The Rural Library Summit is a half-day celebration of the impact rural libraries have on the aspirations of young people. 

We invite you to register for the Rural Library Summit, a half-day celebration of libraries' contributions to third grade reading outcomes and their impact on the aspirations of young people especially in rural communities.

Research has shown that children who read on or above grade level in third grade triple their chances of attending college. The Summit will explore how libraries can grow their impact on third grade reading by leveraging community support and resources.

Participants will learn about and connect with a range of opportunities with regional and national organizations, including the newly launched Rural Library Fellowship. The fellowship will support the efforts of 22 Fellows to engage in initiatives to increase third grade reading in their communities.

Learn more here. You can register here for this free summit.

*All Summit participants will be entered into a raffle to win $1,000 to purchase books for their library—five lucky winners will be awarded!*

If you have questions, contact Katie Basham at bashamk@berea.edu.

The Rural Library Summit is a joint initiative of Partners for Education at Berea College and Save the Children. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

SUMMIT AGENDA

Opening -The opening keynote for the Summit will be Kekla Magoon, author of books for young readers, including The Season of Styx Malone, The Rock and the River, How It Went Down and the Robyn Hoodlum Adventure series. She will address the important role libraries play in connecting students to current events, civil rights and civic engagement. Kekla has received an NAACP Image Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the John Steptoe New Talent Award, three Coretta Scott King Honors and been long listed for the National Book Award.

Opportunity Sessions- Participants will be able to select and participate in multiple Opportunity sessions, where they can learn about and connect with a range of opportunities with regional and national organizations, including the newly launched Rural Library Fellowship.

Closing - The Summit will close with an address by Hasan Davis, a “hope dealer” who blends art and advocacy to strengthen organizations and systems that support youth. Both his art and advocacy are rooted in his personal experience: as young black man he looked for images of heroic African Americans in the American Story only to discover they had been cut out. Today, Hasan uses his gifts as an attorney, researcher, writer and performing artist to bring the stories of America’s black heroes to life. In his address, Hasan will discuss how sharing stories like that of York, the only African American on the Lewis and Clark expedition, can play a transformative role in America’s quest for unity and social justice.