In November 2025, the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library received an email that stopped us in our tracks: “Congratulations! The ARSL Grant Review Team is delighted to inform you that your application for the 2025–2026 Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program has been selected!” For a small rural library that has only recently begun pursuing large-scale grants, this news was both unexpected and deeply affirming.
Over the summer of 2025, our Assistant Director, Kathy, and I made a concerted effort to identify grant opportunities that aligned with our mission and community needs. The Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program immediately stood out. We learned about the program through The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) communications and social media, and more than once remarked on what an extraordinary opportunity it would be for our library to receive such substantial support.
When we submitted our application, we did so with cautious optimism, knowing how competitive national grants can be—especially for a small institution like ours. When the acceptance email arrived, the initial reaction among staff was genuine disbelief, followed quickly by excitement and pride.
The Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program is a collaborative initiative offered by the ARSL, the Simons Foundation, and SciStarter. Its goal is to cultivate a national cohort of “math ambassadors” who challenge traditional notions of who can lead math engagement in a community. The program emphasizes accessible, creative, and inclusive approaches to mathematics, particularly within rural and small library settings.
As part of the program, participating libraries are asked to design and implement programming around three math-themed “holidays”: Pi Day (March 14, 2026), Infinity Day (August 8, 2026), and Fibonacci Day (November 23, 2026). Only twenty rural and small libraries from across the United States were selected to participate in the 2025–2026 cohort, making this opportunity especially meaningful.
The grant also includes robust professional development and networking opportunities. Cohort members will gather for an in-person convening in New York, providing training, collaboration, and the chance to build relationships with fellow librarians from across the country. This momentum will continue through monthly virtual meetings and an in-person gathering at the ARSL Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, in September 2026.
Planning is already underway at the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library, beginning with our Pi Day celebration. We will offer a combination of passive and interactive programming, including math-themed films and television programming shown on our public television and in our community room. In addition, we are excited to incorporate art-based learning opportunities that connect mathematics with creativity. Planned activities include abstract string art and skyline designs inspired by the digits of Pi, ensuring that patrons of all ages can engage with math in an approachable and imaginative way.
Our Pi Day celebration will culminate on March 14 with a community gathering featuring, fittingly, pie—and a public display of the artwork created throughout the preceding weeks. This grant allows us not only to celebrate math but to reimagine how libraries can foster curiosity, creativity, and confidence in learning. We are honored to be part of the Infinite Sums cohort and look forward to sharing this journey with our community.
–Cindy Scheu, Director – J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library
