Updated Performer's List

Check out the updated Performer and Speaker List as of May 9, 2008. It has been formatted in PDF for any of you out there that don't have Excel. Enjoy!

Kathie Myer's Memorial Service

Kathie Myers, Cedar Park PL's circulation coordinator who worked at the library for 15 years, passed away on May 3. Kathie had been fighting cancer for almost a year. Her memorial service is scheduled on Thursday, May 22nd, at 6:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church at 703, S. Church Street, Georgetown.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions to the Cedar Park Public Library Foundation in memory of Kathie.  The Library Foundation's address is 550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613.

May Newsletter is Here

Read all about it -- get your May Newsletter!

Lake Whitney Public Library Celebrates Renovation

On April 20, 2008, the Lake Whitney Public Library celebrated the completion of their renovation, which was made possible by many volunteer hours, a Tocker Foundation grant, a Smith Foundation grant, and a Community Development grant. The event was well attended and the librarian Denise Carter was honored by the Friends of the Library and mayor of Whitney with a proclamation from the city that April 20th was Denise Carter Day.

Austin Public Library Wins Book Cart Drill Team Competition!

Congratulations to the Austin Public Library Bibliofiles for their win in the statewide Book Cart Drill Team competition!   Their presentation at the TLA conference in Dallas beat out teams from across the state.  Their win earns them a spot at the national competition during the June ALA conference in Ahaheim, California.  Check out their winning performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7DjD0hhXcE.

Wimberley Book Sale

The Friends of the Wimberley Village Library are hosting a Used Book Sale for the public on May 3, 2008, from 8:30-4:00 (there's a preview for members of the Friends - you can become a member on the spot - on the 2nd 6-8 pm). Recent best sellers, paperbacks, non-fiction, large military collection, and more.  The sale will be held at Chapel in the Hills Hall on RR12.   

New Library Building in Bedias 

Bedias (pronounced Bee-Dice) is developing a library in northern Grimes County. They are re-vamping a beautiful old church into the library. Jana McLain, head librarian (left), is working with volunteers like Jody Schaper (right) to make this library a reality. We look forward to seeing all your progress!

Clifton receives Grant for Children's Books

Nellie Pederson Civic Library in Clifton has been awarded a grant by the Libri Foundation to purchase new children's books valued at $1,050.  This grant provided 2-to-1 matching funds on an original donation of $350 from the Clifton Civic Improvement Society. Clifton is very excited at the prospect of purchasing approximately 70 children's books soon. Way to go, Clifton!

Circulation at Elgin Public Library to Hit All-Time Highs

Check out this article about Elgin Public Library from the Bastrop Advertiser. This fiscal year will be a record-breaking one for Elgin, as the library sees 100,000 books and other materials checked out. Congratulations to Elgin! 

More Tocker Grants Awarded to Members!

In addition to Hearne and Fairfield, Jenny Trent Dew Library in Goldthwaite, Lago Vista Community Library, and Smithville Public Library have also received Tocker Grants.  The Tocker Foundation will fund 5 years of fees for Biblionix’s Apollo System at Lago Vista.   Goldthwaite will re-do their computer area by ordering new computer furniture and 2 new computers.  Smithville will use the grant to purchase staff computers, shelving for their Fiction section, and online GED software. All libraries are thrilled to receive the grants; Jan Steele says, "I don’t know what we smaller libraries would do without the Tocker Foundation." Congrats to these member libraries!

Library Journal Names Devo Carpenter 
a 2008 Mover & Shaker

Library Journal named Austin Public Library's own Devo Carpenter as a 2008 Mover & Shaker, specifically a Mentor for all her wonderful work bringing library materials and services to teens at Austin's Gardner-Betts Juvenile Justice Center. We're so proud of Devo and feel lucky to work with her!

Tocker Grants to Hearne and Fairfield

Congratulations are in order to the Smith-Welch Memorial Library in Hearne and to Fairfield Public Library. Smith-Welch Memorial Library got a Tocker grant to help them furnish the building they will be moving to. Hearne’s library will relocate to a converted bank building soon, which will also house a community center. Fairfield Public Library just got news that their Tocker Grant will pay for the full 5 years of a new cataloging system from Biblionix.  Great work, Faye, Silvia, and Linda!

Hillsboro Library's Resident Cat

Nanette from Hillsboro sent us these adorable pictures of their library cat. Mr. Potter got his name because he would sleep curled up in a flower pot in back of the building.  Says Nanette, "He came to us in November of 2007 in a sad state, injured and thin.  We nursed him back to health, got his vaccs and had him neutered, and now he is totally spoiled rotten (as all animals should be).  He is well loved and very handsome."

Small Library Management Program Graduates from CTLS!

Congratulations to the following library staff and directors from CTLS member libraries. They have completed the 5-session, 2 ½ year Small Library Management Training Program that the Texas State Library provides in several locations around the state.

Rhonda Bass: Maffett Memorial Library, Groesbeck
Daniel Berra: Wells Branch Community Library
Pam Downing: Kingsland Branch, Llano County Library
ShienDee Pullman: Gibbs Memorial Library, Mexia
Dian Ray: Llano County Library
Jan Redmond: Blanco Library District South
Marian Wiederhold: Black Bridge Library, Dime Box
Gail Woodward: Marlin Public Library

For more information about this worthwhile program, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  at the system office.

PLINKIT Project Receives ASCLA Award

The Public Library Interface Kit (PLINKIT) Collaborative, is the 2008 co-recipient of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) Leadership and Professional Achievement Award presented by the ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The ASCLA Leadership and Professional Achievement Award is a citation presented to one or more ASCLA members in recognition of leadership and achievement in the following areas of activity: consulting, multi-type library cooperation, networking, statewide service and programs and state library development. Read more... If you're interested in participating in the PLINKIT Project, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

"Seuss on the Loose" at Bee Cave Public Library

Bee Cave Public Library celebrated Dr. Seuss’ 104th birthday with its third annual “Seuss on the Loose” party at its new location in the Hill Country Galleria.  More than 400 people attended the half-day event as part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America program. More info...

Suzan Named TALL Texan

CTLS’s very own Suzan Nyfeler has been accepted into the TALL Texans library leadership program, sponsored by the Texas Library Association. We are proud of our multi-talented staff member and wish her all the best in this endeavor!

Muriel Jackson, Our Newest Board Member

Please welcome Muriel Jackson from Wimberley as our new Board Member. We look forward to your participation and advice!

Reaching Our Spanish-speaking Audience Workshops for Spring

This important initiative is being supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through a grant administered by OCLC/Web Junction to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and other state library agencies throughout the United States. Participants will learn awareness of cultural differences and issues, how to form community partnerships and collaboration between the library and the Spanish-speaking community, and techniques on increasing awareness of the public library and public computers to Spanish-speaking customers. Workshops are being held 9:00am to 4:30pm in Waco on May 13, and Austin on May 15. Our own Jennifer Patterson will present these free workshops. Register now with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Reading Club Manuals have Arrived

The 2008 Texas Reading Club Manual is now online.  The theme is "Texas Reading Club Jubilee, 1958-2008!", and Janet Stevens created the beautiful artwork. The Texas Teens Read!  Manual is also online.  The theme is "Game On! TTR.08" and Rod Espinosa created the artwork. A CD-Rom with both the Texas Teens Read! and Texas Reading Club manuals is being mailed to participating libraries.  The posters, certificates, bookmarks, and reading logs for both Texas Teens Read! and the Texas Reading Club will be sent to participating libraries by March 31, 2008.If you have not yet ordered materials for the Texas Reading Club or Texas Teens Read!, you may place an order.  You may also confirm your orders on this spreadsheet. Question on your order?  Contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or call 800-252-9386.

CTLS Science Fiction Extravaganza

The CTLS Science Fiction Extravaganza was everything we hoped it would be! If you were there, count yourself among the lucky ones!  The day exceeded our expectations – that’s always a good feeling. The membership meeting was laced with a little healthy controversy. Dressing up was fun (for those of us who are so inclined). The Friends luncheon was good (if slightly delayed by trying to bake 80 foil pouches at once).

The afternoon workshop was thrilling, thought-provoking, and educational. Lou Anders, Editorial Director of PYR, a division of Prometheus Books, was a very natural and compelling speaker. Take a look at Lou’s blog, which describes our Jan. 25th workshop in Georgetown and his Texas trip. You may also be interested in his must-have science fiction list.

New Board Officers Elected       

At their January 11 meeting, the CTLS, Inc. Board of Directors elected the following officers:

Chair: Peggy Gibson
Vice-Chair: Larry Ringer
Secretary: Lyle Thormann
Treasurer: Eileen Altmiller

Congratulations to the new officers, and thanks to the previous officers for their faithful service.

Membership Directory for 2008

Get your copy here! If you have any changes or updates you'd like to make to our directory, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CTLS @ Your Library

Does your library have a special project that needs assistance?  Then you need CTLS @ your library! CTLS @ your library is a new way for member libraries to apply for targeted assistance from System specialists (Laurie, Jennifer, Suzan, Kam and Mike).  If selected, we will work with your library on one or more of the special projects listed at SurveyMonkey.  Please send one application per library. 

Consumer Health Workshops on Request

CTLS and Becky McKay, Texas A&M University Medical Sciences Librarian, are offering classes on two topics - physical health information and mental health information. Each workshop is 2 hours long and will include handouts and exercises using online medical databases.  These can each be geared to library staff, library patrons, or both. For more information, visit our Workshops on Request page. Contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  to schedule these workshops at your library.

Library Technology Podcasts

Palinet, a Mid-Atlantic library system serving all types of libraries, has created a podcast series featuring interviews with leaders in library technology. You can listen or subscribe to these (free!) podcasts here.

Greenlights Templates and Resources for Running a Non-Profit

Suzan came upon some useful web pages recently -- the Greenlights' Resources Directory. From Accounting to Board Governance and Strategic Planning, Greenlights has compiled templates and checklists to help your non-profit succeed.

Downloadable Audiobooks Wiki

If you have any questions or comments about the CTLS downloadable audiobooks consortium, please visit our new wiki, http://ctlseaudioconsortium.pbwiki.com/ . We look forward to seeing the resources and community on the wiki grow!

Member Suggestion Box

Have a great idea you'd like to share with us? Do you think there's something CTLS needs to improve? We welcome your suggestions.

Is there an event at your library that you'd like to share with fellow member libraries? Please This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll post it.