PLS serves three particular areas facing many barriers common to small, rural towns: decreasing population, high poverty rates and ongoing mandated school improvement plans. PLS partnered with schools in these towns to provide library cards and quality outreach to increase student success. Targeted emails were sent to adults highlighting PLS homework help and 1,500 postcards were mailed to households with children in these three areas.

In order to move the needle, staff narrowed the focus outreach solely on academic resources like Brainfuse, Learning Express and EBSCO. Through routine outreach, students repeatedly learned to access library resources for fun and for school, such as learning more about Brainfuse Chess Club. As an incentive for engaging with library staff and resources, fourth grade classrooms were awarded a $500 technology grant and high school freshmen who utilized PLS resources the most were granted a $500 scholarship.

Overall, library cardholders in these areas increased 450% in one school year. Pre/post-surveys indicated 39% of students were aware of resources PLS had to offer at the beginning of the school year compared to 48% at the end. When asked if they use PLS resources, 20% answered yes in August, which improved markedly to 73% in May 2022. Print and eMaterial circulation increased and, most impressively, database usage went from two logins to a high of 72. Classroom grants and scholarships were awarded in ceremony.