Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 10.04 Libraries
Presentation #1 Title
Lighting the Fuse: Building regional identity through public library services in rural Central Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This presentation will relate survey and interview data that explore the perceptions and beliefs of librarians concerning the role of public libraries in fostering regional identity with a focus on libraries in rural Central Appalachia. As public libraries across the nation work to strengthen their connections to the communities they serve, the role of the library is being refined and redefined in relation to local needs and interests. During the past decade, the archival branch of librarianship has come to terms with the notion that by denying the inherently subjective nature of core archival duties such as acquisition, description, and providing access, archivists have been complicit in excluding the narratives of marginalized groups by preserving and perpetuating dominant historical, social, and cultural narratives. Often described as the ‘people’s university’, public libraries demonstrate a similar diligence in ensuring that their resources and services reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Especially in the Appalachian region, where some believe that established narratives have often been constructed to support corporate and government agendas and can result in stigmatization of the region and its people, the public library can provide an important counterpoint to stereotypical portrayals that distort the image of Appalachian communities.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
In May 2014, I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a Master of Science in Library Science, and I am currently working as a librarian at the Ashe County Public Library.
Lighting the Fuse: Building regional identity through public library services in rural Central Appalachia
This presentation will relate survey and interview data that explore the perceptions and beliefs of librarians concerning the role of public libraries in fostering regional identity with a focus on libraries in rural Central Appalachia. As public libraries across the nation work to strengthen their connections to the communities they serve, the role of the library is being refined and redefined in relation to local needs and interests. During the past decade, the archival branch of librarianship has come to terms with the notion that by denying the inherently subjective nature of core archival duties such as acquisition, description, and providing access, archivists have been complicit in excluding the narratives of marginalized groups by preserving and perpetuating dominant historical, social, and cultural narratives. Often described as the ‘people’s university’, public libraries demonstrate a similar diligence in ensuring that their resources and services reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Especially in the Appalachian region, where some believe that established narratives have often been constructed to support corporate and government agendas and can result in stigmatization of the region and its people, the public library can provide an important counterpoint to stereotypical portrayals that distort the image of Appalachian communities.
