Our preparation webinars for summer reading are now available in the State Library’s Online Learning for Library Workers website. Be sure to login first to get your credit. The accounts are free, and the option to create one is available on the login page.
The direct links are:
Continue reading CE Credit Available for Recorded SRP Webinars
From the TSLAC website:
Rebuilding Texas Libraries Grants
These grants funds Texas library services and programs to aid libraries that sustained damage by Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. They assist libraries in restoring services and programs to their patrons.
This grant program will fund operating expenditures such as library supplies and materials, technology, furniture, and contractual services. To be eligible, grant expenses must be reasonable and in accordance with appropriate state or local operating policies and procedures. Further, all grant expenses must be designed to respond directly to the disaster.
For further information on grant amount, eligible activities, and libraries that are eligible to recieve funds, please visit this page of the TSLAC website.
From Mark Smith, Director of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission:
On September 18 we will open applications for “Rebuilding Texas Libraries,” disaster relief grants to public, school, and academic libraries in Texas counties affected by Hurricane Harvey. We will make at least $300,000 in Library Services and Technology Act Funds available to libraries in counties declared a disaster area or a sheltering jurisdiction by Governor Greg Abbott.
More information on Rebuilding Texas Libraries grants in included in this press release issued today:https://www.tsl.texas.gov/news/2017/tslac_disaster_relief__grant
We appreciate the flexibility and support of the Institute for Museum and Library Services for working with us to be able to make these funds available on an emergency basis. Guidelines will be issued on September 18 and streamlined grant applications will be due by October 16.
The Texas State Library has shared some powerful images and media with information from their Return on Investment 2017 Study. Share these resources widely to let your communities know the true value of your public library.
Image from Katelyn Patterson
Texas Library Association statement, reprinted with permission
Remembering Christine McNew
Christine McNew, youth services coordinator in the Library Development and Networking Division at the Texas State Library and Archives passed away this week. Over the years, Christine made remarkable and highly visible contributions to the services offered to Texas libraries. She was a widely respected statewide expert on the topic of library services to children, and was a veteran of many workshops, webinars, and conference presentations on the subject.
Christine was always a tireless advocate of the power of summer reading programs and recently added important groundbreaking work encouraging summer nutrition programs at libraries. Christine will be long remembered for her substantial contributions over her entire career to excellence in library services to children. For decades to come, many thousands of children in Texas will benefit from her work.
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The Texas Library Association put together a resolution in memory of Christine McNew.
She will be missed by all.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission produced a study of the economic impact of public libraries in Texas using data from the 2015 fiscal year. This study was lead by Dr. James Jarrett, Senior Research Scientist of the Bureau of Business Research, IC² Institute, The University of Texas at Austin. The economic modeling was performed by Brian Lewandowski, Associate Director of the Business Research Division, Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder.
The short version is that Texas communities gain an average of $4.64 in benefits for every $1.00 invested in their public library. The full text of the press release is at https://www.tsl.texas.gov/news/2017/roi2017. A video announcement may be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/tslac/videos/1301309966558685.
From the Texas State Library and Archives Commission:
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) and Reach Out and Read-Texas (ROR), a program of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, share a mission of encouraging a love of books and reading and supporting preschool children in school-readiness. To enhance their success, the TSLAC and ROR formalized a Collaboration Agreement to encourage local Texas public libraries and local ROR participants to collaborate. This is a wonderful opportunity to promote your Family Place programs and additional programs for preschool children.
The mission of Reach Out and Read-Texas (http://reachoutandreadtexas.org/index.aspx) is to give young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. Since 1991, the Reach Out and Read model has been studied by academic investigators in a variety of settings, providing an extensive body of peer-reviewed research on the effects of the program.
Key Findings
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission invites Texas public libraries to initiate collaborations with local ROR programs, and to provide:
For more information about establishing ROR partnerships, please visit the Texas State Library’s website at https://www.tsl.texas.gov/www.tsl.texas.gov/ldn/youthservices/ROR or contact Christine McNew, Youth Services Consultant, at cmcnew@tsl.texas.gov.
In 2017, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission will again be providing the Collaborative Summer Library Program‘s Summer Reading manuals to Texas libraries. However, instead of providing it on a DVD, the manual will be available to your library on a flash drive OR online with a password. Please take a moment to take this survey to let TSLAC know which way you prefer to get your SRP materials.
Next year’s theme is Build a Better World and we have already started collecting ideas on Pinterest. Have a wonderful summer, everyone!
Check out this post from the Texas State Library & Archives on participating in the Texas Public Library Speed Test. Sounds easy to participate! Please help them gather this data.
For just a couple more weeks, the Texas Public Library Speed Test will remain up and running – and NOW is your chance to conduct this quick, easy test and have your library’s voice represented in this state-wide snapshot of the amount of Internet speed available to patrons in public libraries.
So far we’ve received results from about two-thirds of main libraries and we’d love to get the remaining third in the state!
Want to participate but don’t have the invitation or link? Email TSLAC for the invitation!
The automated process takes less than 2 minutes and can be done via any browser on one of the library’s public access computers.
So far we’ve received a range of speeds: from 462 kilobytes downloaded per second all the way to above 1 gigabit downloaded per second.
As it stands now, about half of libraries serving populations below 25K have reported download speeds of 10 Mbps and below.
Here’s how it currently breaks down:Below 25K: 48% report 10 Mbps or below
25K to 99K: 19% report 10 Mbps or below
100K and above: 10% report 10 Mbps or belowWhat’s your Internet speed and how do you fit in to this? Take the test and join in!
A big Thank You! to the following libraries who’ve taken the Speed Test and had their results transmitted to us for this important project!
Abernathy Public Library Ethel L Whipple Memorial Library Motley County Library Abilene Public Library Eula & David Wintermann Library Mount Calm Public Library Alicia Salinas Public Library Euless Public Library Mount Pleasant Public Library Allan Shivers Library & Museum Fairfield Library Muleshoe Area Public Library Alma M Carpenter Public Library Falls City Public Library Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library Alpine Public Library Fannie Brown Booth Memorial Library Nancy Nail Memorial Library Alvarado Public Library Fayette Public Library Natalia Veterans Memorial Library Alvord Public Library Ferris Public Library Nellie Pederson Civic Library Amarillo Public Library Flatonia Public Library Nesbitt Memorial Library Andrews County Library Flower Mound Public Library New Boston Public Library Archer Public Library FM Buck Richards Memorial Library New Braunfels Public Library Arlington Public Library System Foard County Library New Waverly Public Library Arthur Temple Sr Memorial Library Forest Hill Public Library Newton County Public Library Atlanta Public Library Fort Bend County Libraries Nicholas P Sims Library & Lyceum Aubrey Area Library Fort Stockton Public Library North Richland Hills Public Library Austin County Library System Fort Worth Library Nueces County Keach Family Library Austin Memorial Library Franklin County Library Palacios Library Inc Austin Public Library Friendswood Public Library Paris Public Library Azle Memorial Library Friona Public Library Pasadena Public Library Bailey H Dunlap Memorial Library Gaines County Library Patrick Heath Public Library Balch Springs Library-Learning Center Gatesville Public Library Pearsall Public Library Bastrop Public Library Genevieve Miller Hitchcock Public Library Penitas Public Library Baylor County Free Library Georgetown Public Library Pflugerville Public Library Bee Cave Public Library Gibbs Memorial Library Pharr Memorial Library Bell/Whittington Public Library Giddings Public Library Pilot Point Community Library Bellaire City Library Gilbreath Memorial Library Pittsburg-Camp County Public Library Benbrook Public Library Gilliam Memorial Public Library Plano Public Library System Bertha Voyer Memorial Library Gonzales Public Library Port Isabel Public Library BiblioTech Grace Grebing Public/School Library Post Public Library Blanche K Werner Public Library Grand Saline Public Library Poteet Public Library Blanco County South Library District Grandview Public Library Pottsboro Area Public Library Bonham Public Library Grapevine Public Library Prosper Community Library Bowie Public Library Groesbeck Public Library Quemado Public Library Boyce Ditto Public Library Groves Public Library Quitman Public Library Breckenridge Library Gunter Library and Museum Rains County Public Library Bridge City Public Library Hale Center Public Library Inc Ranger City Library Brownsville Public Library Haltom City Public Library Rankin Public Library Brownwood Public Library Harper Library Reagan County Library Bryan+College Station Public Library System Harris County Public Library Real County Public Library Buda Public Library Haslet Public Library Red River County Public Library Buffalo Public Library Helen Hall Library Reeves County Library Bullard Community Library Hemphill County Library Rhoads Memorial Library Bulverde/Spring Branch Library Hewitt Public Library Rhome Public Library Burkburnett Library Hidalgo Public Library Richard S and Leah Morris Memorial Library Burnet County Library System Higgins Public Library Richardson Public Library Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library Highland Park Library Rio Grande City Public Library Calhoun County Public Library Hillsboro City Library Rio Hondo Public Library Callahan County Library Hood County Public Library Rita & Truett Smith Public Library Cameron Public Library Houston Public Library River Oaks Public Library Cameron-J Jarvis Troup Municipal Library Hutchinson County Library Roanoke Public Library Canyon Area Library Hutto Public Library Robert J Kleberg Public Library Caprock Public Library Imperial Public Library Rosenberg Library Carl & Mary Welhausen Library Iraan Public Library Rotan Public Library Carrollton Public Library Irving Public Library Round Rock Public Library System Carson County Public Library Jackson County Memorial Library Round Top Family Library Cedar Park Public Library Jacksonville Public Library Rowlett Public Library Centennial Memorial Library Jasper Public Library Rube Sessions Memorial Library CF Goodwin Public Library JH Wootters Crockett Public Library Runge Public Library Chambers County Library System Joe Barnhart Bee County Library Rusk County Library System Chandler Public Library John Ed Keeter Public Library Salado Public Library District Charles J Rike Memorial Library Jones Public Library Sam Fore Jr Wilson County Public Library Charlotte Public Library Judy B McDonald Public Library Sammy Brown Library Chico Public Library Inc Keller Public Library San Antonio Public Library City County Library Kendalia Public Library San Marcos Public Library City of Garden Ridge Library Kendrick Memorial Library Santa Anna Library City of Presidio Library Kenedy Public Library Schertz Public Library City of Wolfforth Library Kennedale Public Library Schulenburg Public Library Claud H Gilmer Memorial Library Kent County Library Seagoville Public Library Clint ISD Public Library Kilgore Public Library Seguin-Guadalupe County Public Library Clyde Public Library Killeen City Library System Shackelford County Library Cochran County Love Memorial Library Killgore Memorial Library Sherman County Public Library Cockrell Hill Public Library Kimble County Library Shiner Public Library Coldspring Area Public Library Inc Krum Public Library Sinton Public Library Coleman Public Library La Joya Municipal Library Smithville Public Library Colleyville Public Library La Marque Public Library Smith-Welch Memorial Library Collingsworth Public Library Laguna Vista Public Library Springlake-Earth Community Library Comanche Public Library Lake Travis Community Library Stella Hill Memorial Library Comfort Public Library Lake Whitney Library Sterling County Public Library Commerce Public Library Lampasas Public Library Sterling Municipal Library Converse Public Library Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library Stewart C Meyer Library Cooke County Library Laredo Public Library Stonewall County Library Copperas Cove Public Library Leander Public Library Swisher County Library Corpus Christi Public Libraries Lee Public Library Taft Public Library County-City Library Lena Armstrong Public Library Taylor Public Library Crandall-Combine Community Library Leon Valley Public Library Teague Public Library Crane County Library Lewisville Public Library Temple Public Library Crockett County Public Library Liberty Hill Public Library Texarkana Public Library Crosby County Library Liberty Municipal Library The Colony Public Library Crowley Public Library Library of Graham The Library at Cedar Creek Lake Cuero Public Library Live Oak County Library TLL Temple Memorial Library & Archives D Brown Memorial Library Llano County Library System Tom Burnett Memorial Library Dallam-Hartley County Library Lois Nelson Public Library Tye Preston Memorial Library Dallas Public Library Lovett Memorial Library McLean Tyler Public Library Deaf Smith County Library Lovett Memorial Library Pampa Unger Memorial Library Decatur Public Library Lubbock Public Library Upton County Public Library Dennis M O Connor Public Library Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library Utopia Memorial Library Denton Public Library Lumberton Public Library Val Verde County Library DeSoto Public Library Lytle Public Library Valley Mills Public Library Dickens County Spur Public Library Madison County Library Van Alstyne Public Library Dickinson Public Library Mae S Bruce Library Van Horn City County Library Dilley Public Library Mansfield Public Library Van Zandt County Library Dimmit County Public Library Marathon Public Library Victoria Public Library Dr Hector P Garcia Memorial Library Marfa Public Library Vidor Public Library Dripping Springs Community Library Marion & Ed Hughes Public Library Virgil & Josephine Gordon Memorial Library Driscoll Public Library Marion Community Library W Walworth Harrison Public Library Dublin Public Library Marshall Public Library Waller County Library Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library Martin County Library Ward County Library Duval County/San Diego Public Library Mason County M Beven Eckert Memorial Library Waskom Public Library Eagle Pass Public Library Mathis Public Library Watauga Public Library East Parker County Library Mayor Joe V Sanchez Public Library Weatherford Public Library Ector County Library MB Noelke Jr Memorial Library Wells Branch Community Library Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library McAllen Memorial Library West Public Library Edwards Public Library McGinley Memorial Public Library Westbank Community Library District Effie & Wilton Hebert Public Library Medina Community Library Westworth Village Public Library El Paso Public Library Melissa Public Library Whitesboro Public Library El Progreso Memorial Library Memphis Public Library Whitewright Public Library Electra Public Library Mesquite Public Library William T Cozby Public Library Elgin Public Library Midland County Public Library Wimberley Village Library Ellen Brooks West Memorial Library of Forney Montgomery County Memorial Library System Winters Public Library Elsa Public Library Moody Community Library Wolfe City Public Library Ennis Public Library Moore Memorial Public Library Yoakum County Library Yoakum County/Cecil Bickley Library
From the TSLAC website:
A very special three-part webinar series on patron privacy for Texas library staff kicks off on February 9.
Patron Privacy – What Texas Library Staff Should Know
(For Texas Library Staff Only)
Are you confident in your ability to handle requests for patron information from authorities? When is the last time you had a refresher on Texas laws related to library records? Do you have questions regarding privacy and the online environment, employees, volunteers, or serving minors? The Texas State Library & Archives Commission invites Texas library staff to attend this very special Webinar series on privacy, presented by Texas attorney Gretchen McCord.
During this three part series, Gretchen will provide guidance and training focused on privacy in the areas of constitutional law, federal law, Texas state law, and application of the law and ethics. She will discuss how to minimize the risk related to privacy issues in the library, and will address frequently asked questions. Attendees will also have ample opportunity to ask questions of this noted privacy expert, so this is a webinar series that you do not want to miss!
About the presenter: Gretchen McCord is an attorney licensed by the State of Texas, specializing in privacy and copyright. Gretchen provides legal advising and training in the areas of copyright law, privacy law, licensing, and other legal issues associated with digital information and social media. With a total of over twenty years of experience as a lawyer and a higher education librarian, her practice (Digital Information Law) focuses on assisting educational institutions and libraries, small and mid-sized businesses, and non-profit organizations as they transition into the digital world.
1.5 TSLAC CE hours per session
Attendees must register for each part of the series separately.
Part 1 – February 9, 2016 from 2-3:30pm CST — Register: http://bit.ly/23jpWay
Part 2 – February 16, 2016 from 2-3:30pm CST — Register: http://bit.ly/1RDvloU
Part 3 – February 23, 2016 from 2-3:30pm CST — Register: http://bit.ly/1nDDRrs
Questions? Please contact Naomi DiTullio, Distance Learning Consultant, Library Development and Networking Division, nditullio@tsl.texas.gov or 1-800-252-9386 (toll free in Texas).