CTLS Staff Members | CTLS Board of Directors
CTLS Long Range Planning Committee | CTLS Bylaws | CTLS Organizational Chart
CTLS Financial Management Plan

CTLS Mission

Central Texas Library System, Inc., a collaboration of member libraries, lay representatives, and staff, exists to strengthen library services and to equalize access to information for all central Texas by:

• Encouraging cooperation among libraries
• Supplementing local library resources
• Developing library leadership
• Developing local support
  

CTLS Vision

Our libraries will be exceptionally well used because they offer excellent customer service and outstanding access to quality information and materials. Our libraries will be gateways for citizens to access the Internet, other electronic information resources, and the collections of libraries in remote locations. Our libraries will be central for lifelong learning and vital resources in the cultural, intellectual, and recreational lives of central Texans.

History of CTLS

In 1969, the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Library Systems Act which created the framework for the 10 regional systems. The Central Texas Library System, along with the other 9 systems, received little state funding for a number of years. Over time, the funding increased and many new libraries were established to serve the rapidly growing central Texas population. In 1975, the System was comprised of 32 public library members. By 1985, the CTLS membership numbered 44 libraries serving central Texas. In 1995, 60 libraries were members, and in 2005, the system had 76 member libraries. In the fall of 2004, 54 member libraries voted to join a non-profit corporation for the purposes of administering the system grant. On September 1, 2005, the Central Texas Library System, Inc. was awarded a contract to manage the System and TANG grants from the Texas State Library.

For almost 30 years, from 1973 to 2002, the system office was housed in the basement of the Austin History Center, the old Austin Public Library building in downtown Austin. Between 2002 and 2005, the System office moved three times. Currently, the system is headquartered at 1005 West 41st Street in central Austin. Seven staff members work diligently to assist 79 member and 13 non-member libraries with the daily challenges of running a public library in Texas.