A
Statement of Vision, Mission,
Values, and Major Initiatives
ADOPTED BY TLA COUNCIL JULY 2009
The Texas Library Association is a voluntary organization whose
membership represents a variety of geographic and cultural areas.
Professional librarians, staff members, and lay persons find in the
Association common ground for focusing on the issues which all libraries
must address in responding effectively to the information needs of
people.
Any library, any person, any time!: the Texas Library Association
enables libraries in Texas to offer open access to information resources
and services to all people.
The Texas Library Association energizes and prepares library personnel
and supporters to meet the needs of individuals and communities in
changing cultural settings. By fostering the creative exchange of
information and ideas, the Association serves members and focuses their
collective voice for action and advocacy.
As an association, the Texas Library Association values:
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Advocacy on behalf of libraries and information literacy
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Collaborations and partnerships with other organizations having
similar goals and interests
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Development of leaders
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Diversity of all kinds in membership, programs, and services
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Flexibility in governance and organizational structure
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Fostering professional development and other educational opportunities
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Intellectual freedom and equity of access to information
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Lifelong literacy, learning, and reading
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Openness to the changing needs of its members
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Professionalism, ethical conduct, and integrity
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Social responsibility in communities at all levels
Preface: In addition to the continuing the important annual work of the
associations—such as advocacy efforts, awards, reading lists, and
countless others (at both the Association and unit level), TLA will also
address its energy and resources to accomplish the following major
initiatives over the next three years.
The Strategic Planning Committee has developed six major initiatives
based on the Transforming Texas Libraries Summit, discussions throughout
the year (at conference and annual assembly), and feedback provided
through multiple channels. These major initiatives are created to give
direction and targeted purpose to the Association and its members with
the understanding that, as a community, we will redefine these
initiatives in the next strategic planning process. The Association,
like our members, is vibrant and eager to adapt to our environments.
I. TRANSFORMING LIBRARIES
The Association shall focus on providing training and tools that will
help individual libraries implement services and environments that: 1)
meet the most current and emerging needs of customers and 2) prove
engaging to people who do not regularly turn to the library for
information needs.
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Go outside the library to learn what customers/communities want and
need.
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Provide instruction and resources to allow libraries to undertake
local surveys, focus groups, assessment strategies, as well as
determining internal or external factors affecting the organization.
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Encourage librarians to participate in non-library groups and
activities and opportunities for external relations building (e.g.,
working with local and state PTA groups).
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Collect and share best practices and new developments with
colleagues to foster a rich environment for change and innovation.
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Provide librarians with information and training on emerging
technology trends and facilitate assessments of current library
technology adoptions and future needs.
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Equip librarians with skills and best practices to engage existing and
new library constituents through social networking tools by
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Training members to use and make use of social networking tools
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Providing best practices and templates
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Engaging in innovative social networking practices
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Expanding the Association’s own social networking tools and
aggressively promote these tools to the membership
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Expand networking opportunities for all types of libraries to work
together at the district level (including more events involving
districts, Systems, and Education Service Centers, etc).
II. PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Association shall promote libraries and statewide initiatives for
the purpose of increasing support for libraries, attracting customers to
library services, and emphasizing the ongoing vitality and relevance of
libraries.
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Develop and brand a compelling vision to showcase libraries.
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Create and implement an aggressive campaign to market this vision
locally and statewide.
III. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The Association shall promote a professional culture of expertise and
leadership to ensure: 1) the viability and responsiveness of our
institutions and 2) the strategic positioning of libraries and library
leaders in the formation of our society’s future.
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Foster a culture of leadership at all staffing levels within libraries
and the broader communities they serve.
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Expand leadership training to include additional opportunities for
upper management, seasoned leaders, students, and new recruits to the
field.
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Create mentoring programs for library school students and new TLA
members.
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Define leadership tasks, opportunities, and incentives for members
within TLA.
IV. COLLABORATION
The Association shall forge new relationships and strengthen existing
ones to benefit libraries and the people they serve. The Association
shall also promote collaboration and partnerships within the library
community and help individual libraries partner with other groups to
strengthen their own services.
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Expand partnership opportunities with other statewide organizations
(e.g. Texas PTA, Texas Municipal League) on advocacy, public
relations, program development, and continuing education efforts
(e.g., publishing articles about library services in other
associations’ publications, exhibiting and speaking at outside
conferences, organizing joint task forces, etc.).
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Train library staffs and stimulate local collaboration with outside
groups to deploy library resources and services through new venues
(e.g., social media groups, educational forums, and business
ventures).
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Encourage multi-type collaboration within the library community at
local, regional, and state levels including Education Service Centers,
systems, and TLA districts.
V. Entrepreneurial and innovative activities
The Association shall undertake innovative and entrepreneurial
activities to strengthen the organization and promote the cause of
libraries statewide. The Association shall also equip local libraries
with the means and opportunities to develop similar skills to improve
their own institutions and enhance services for their communities of
users.
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Pursue non-traditional and innovative approaches to funding, revenues,
support for programming, resource-sharing for TLA and libraries
statewide.
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Train librarians to identify and apply for diverse grants and revenue
options to fund libraries and promote the establishment of a
clearinghouse for grant opportunities, best practices, and successful
applications.
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Promote the concept of library return on investment (ROI) and offer
librarians tools and training to assess their own ROI and promote
their value to decision makers.
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Engage in a continued statewide discussion on the “one card” for all
concept and develop strategies to begin effectively creating a path to
provide users with more seamless access to all library resources (Any
library, any person, any time!).
VI.
Organizational Structure
The Association shall analyze and adapt its structure to best
accommodate the dynamic and changing nature of libraries and librarians.
The Association shall make a priority of flexibility and nimbleness for
streamlined and efficient programming and operations.
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Explore organizational structure and reshape the Association to meet
changing needs.
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Evaluate Association’s committees and task forces to respect member’s
time and commitment.
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Ensure the vitality of TLA through growth, member communications,
member orientation, and inclusive activities for all staffs and
supporters.
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Encourage groups within TLA to be innovative, proactive, and leaders.
Submitted by TLA Strategic Plan Task Force
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Joyce Baumbach, Chair
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Melody Kelly
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Patrick Heath
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Steve Brown
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Jane Clausen
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Sue Compton
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Maribel Garza-Castro
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Carlyn Gray
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Joan Heath
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Ling Hwey Jeng
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Karen Nichols
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Toni Lambert
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Virginia Eldridge
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Nancy Kubasek
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