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<p class="MsoNormal">Colleagues, <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">As many of you know, I have been involved in the last three years with a research project that investigated the role of rural libraries in social wellbeing through interviews with community members, as well as a data-driven look at impacts
on things like graduation rates. This project also worked with rural libraries to design and test a series of tools for librarians looking to make a greater positive impact on their communities. The email below from project leader Margo Gustina has links
to the culminating <a href="https://rurallibraries.org/research-policy-brief/">Research & Policy Brief</a> which includes significant findings. For more on this project, findings, and tools, go to
<a href="http://www.rurallibraries.org">www.rurallibraries.org</a>. For questions or comments you can reach out to myself or Margo at
<a href="mailto:research@rurallibraries.org">research@rurallibraries.org</a>. <o:p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eli <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Margo Gustina <research@rurallibraries.org> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, June 29, 2021 10:42 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Guinnee, Eli, DCA <Eli.Guinnee@state.nm.us><br>
<b>Cc:</b> hopedecker123@gmail.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Research & Policy Brief 2021<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Higher graduation rates & test scores! A longer life! A life that
<i>feels</i> better! People living in rural communities with public libraries are demonstrably better off than rural residents without a permanent local library. Rural libraries deliver robust and diverse services tailored to their local communities in buildings,
on average, only slightly bigger than a single-family home. These small buildings are the central place and anchor in small towns, facilitating community member belonging, connection, and mutual support. And in so doing, they correlate dramatically to improved
quality of life and multi-dimensional social wellbeing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">P<span style="color:black">ublic libraries make a difference across dimensions of social wellbeing and community thriving. To read what we've found check out the
<a href="https://rurallibraries.org/research-policy-brief/" title="https://rurallibraries.org/research-policy-brief/">
Research & Policy Brief online</a> or as a<a href="https://rurallibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Research_Policy_Brief_2021.pdf" title="https://rurallibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Research_Policy_Brief_2021.pdf"> .pdf
</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">You'll still hear from the project if you are subscribed, when we publish a new tool, or have future programs available for participation. And this email is always good, so don't hesitate to get
in touch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Ever learning,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Margo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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