“Library censorship surged in 2025. Small and rural libraries face these challenges with a fraction of the staff and budget of their urban counterparts, which is exactly why the Association for Rural and Small Libraries wanted to ask our members what building a diverse collection actually looks like in their communities. The strategies librarians described were practical, not theoretical. Most rely on patron requests, review journals, and vendor lists to guide their purchasing, and interlibrary loan programs to fill gaps they can’t afford to buy outright.”

Book Riot/Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Sept. 25