Jessica Otto (far left) poses with (left to right) Albany County Public Library Director Rachel Crocker, Goshen County Library Director Cristine Braddy, and Teton County Library Director Kip Roberson at the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference in Montgomery, Alabama.
From September 16 through 19, Wyoming State Library Research and Statistics Consultant Jessica Otto had the privilege of traveling to Montgomery, Alabama, to attend the 2026 Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference. According to Jessica, this year’s theme, “Rooted in Community,” couldn’t have been more fitting.
“My primary goals for the trip were to network with peers working in rural and small library systems, listen to their unique challenges and successes, and bring those insights back home to share with colleagues across Wyoming,” said Jessica. “Basically, I just wanted to be an absorbent sponge in a sea of valuable information!”
Jessica wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going into her first ARSL experience. She’d attended the American Library Association (ALA) annual conference a couple of times and was familiar with the feeling of being one amongst thousands in attendance, however, any hesitation she had vanished the moment she arrived at the hotel and ran into a fellow State Data Coordinator (SDC) in the elevator on her way to the Meet and Greet Reception, after which she ran into three more friends from Wyoming libraries and surrounding states!
“ARSL might be for small and rural libraries,” said Jessica, “but it felt like one big reunion. This year’s conference brought together its largest turnout ever, and I have been telling people I walked away from Montgomery with more than 800 new friends!”
Jessica felt that the shared pride among attendees was what made the ARSL atmosphere there so special.
“Everyone present not only understood the unique rhythm and rewards of rural library work,” said Jessica. “They truly loved it and couldn’t wait to share stories about their communities and provided space for you to share yours as well.”
Over three jam-packed days, Jessica attended 11 sessions covering topics from impactful storytelling (a subject near and dear to her data-loving heart!), AI integration in rural communities (the struggles and/or benefits thereof), and even a session on effective presenting techniques designed specifically for library professionals.
The timing of these sessions was fortuitous for Jessica. Just two weeks after returning from Montgomery, she presented at the Wyoming Library Association (WLA) Conference on using statistics in library storytelling and immediately put her new takeaways into practice. During the sessions she attended, multiple presenters at ARSL emphasized the importance of grounding “big data” in “small, emotional examples.” Applying that framework transformed her presentation narrative, helping the concepts click for the audience and sparking meaningful, impactful conversations with colleagues right here in Wyoming.
“If you ever have the opportunity to pursue professional development through ARSL, I cannot recommend it highly enough,” said Jessica. “It was an inspiring reminder of what makes small and rural libraries so vibrant, and I look forward to continuing to build on everything I learned.”