Originally published October 17 , 2025 Library Developments Blog | Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission There’s something magical about dawn over the desert when hot air balloons drift serenely above the Rio Grande Valley with their neon colors glowing against the pale morning sky. That’s the same sense of wonder attendees experienced at the 2025 Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this high-desert city where adobe walls glow in the sunset and mountain peaks blush pink in the evening light, attendees discovered unexpected treasures. Keynotes lifted us as high as the Sandia Peak Tramway, encouraging a view of the big picture while holding tight to local roots. Sessions buzzed with the liveliness and variety of spice markets, and conversations with colleagues felt as vibrant as the balloons at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum—...