Rural and Small Libraries as Social Service Hubs: Types, Scope, and Challenges

Abstract

This study examines social service delivery in rural public libraries through a mixed-method design combining qualitative interviews and a national survey of rural libraries. Findings reveal 36 distinct services organized into three categories: Core Social Services, Supportive Social Infrastructure, and Community Engagement for Social Support. Approximately 44% of surveyed libraries reported offering at least one Core Social Service. Six challenge categories were identified, with rural community context (59.2%) and shifting community expectations (53.9%) cited more frequently than institutional barriers. These findings suggest rural libraries have absorbed social service functions under structurally constrained conditions, with implications for education, policy, and practice.