Arizona State Library Summer Institute

Due to the uncertainty of federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the 2025 Summer Library Institute has been cancelled.

Each year, Library Development coordinates a Summer Library Institute providing professional development, training and networking opportunities for non-MLS public library staff serving mostly small and rural libraries throughout Arizona.

Summer Library Institute is a week-long professional development event that brings together rural library staff from different regions of Arizona to learn about new trends, technologies, and best practices in the field. Over the course of three years, attendees form lasting connections as they experience a variety of workshops, sessions, and keynote speeches by renowned experts and practitioners. Attendees stay on campus in the dorms, which provides ample opportunities for conversation, collaboration, and sharing of ideas and experiences among the participants. Topics cover collection development and programming, outreach, community engagement, project management and more!

The 2024 Summer Institute was held June 3 - 7 at Yavapai College, in Prescott, Arizona.

Eligibility Requirements

The Summer Library Institute is open to candidates who:

  • are currently employed in a library serving fewer than 100,000 people
  • are in a leadership role in their library
  • neither have, nor are pursuing, a MLIS/MLS degree

Please contact Melissa Kummen with any questions.

The Arizona State Library Summer Institute is supported with federal LSTA funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).