Since no local library can meet the information needs of the community on its own, librarians and local policymakers must look to other existing agencies and channels for support. In every locale are agencies, organizations, and governmental and social service units that daily gather, compile, and disseminate information as one of their missions. Aggressive action by local library administrators will foster an effective program of local cooperation with others in the information business. This manual presents a 99-item checklist for self-assessment by rural librarians and library boards. The checklist contains five sections: (1) assessing library mission statements and the roles and attitudes of librarians and policy boards; (2) assessing library policies and procedures that reflect biases or that encourage equal access to information; (3) assessing library facilities and materials; (4) assessing community needs and resources; and (5) assessing existing or possible cooperative networks and support structures. An appendix contains a bibliography on rural library cooperation listing 97 books and journal articles published since 1970. (SV)