Dr. Hands photographed in Silverman Library in October 2022. Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

Dr. Africa S. Hands is the Principal Investigator for Project CLiA. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Information Science at University at Buffalo. She is the author of Successfully Serving the College Bound (ALA Editions, 2015) and has published articles in the Journal of Education in Library and Information Science, Education for Information, Public Library Quarterly, and Information and Learning Sciences.

Rose Candela is a Graduate Research Assistant for Project CLiA. She is pursuing an MLS degree at East Carolina University.

The research team works in consultation with an advisory board that brings expertise in small and rural public libraries, education, and the Appalachian region.


Kandace Rogers
Library Director and Profession
Sullivan University Lexington Campus

Jennifer Resor-Whicker
Head of Research Services
Radford University

Cathy M. Farley
Executive Director
Tennessee Library Association

Dr. Terry Lashley
Executive Directory
SouthEast Educational, Inc.