Public libraries across the country play a critical role in connecting community members to vital resources and programs, now more than ever. The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today the release of new data on the many thousands of rural public libraries in the United States and how they function in American society. Rural Libraries in America: An Infographic Overview provides an overview of the distribution, resources, and services of these important community assets. The brief uses IMLS data from the 2017 Public Libraries Survey and updates the agency’s 2013 analysis of trends for small and rural library services.