ADOPTED BY TLA COUNCIL JULY 9, 2006
   2006-2009 STRATEGIC PLAN

The Texas Library Association is a voluntary organization. Its membership is diverse: people join for a variety of reasons and come from widely different geographic and cultural areas. Although membership potentially includes everyone who uses, is interested in, or works for a library, it is made up primarily of dedicated librarians, staff, and lay people. Cohesion within the organization can come from all units focusing on primary issues for unit action, programming, use of funds, and discussion among members. The plan is reanalyzed regularly to determine the issues that members consider essential for organizational focus.

        MISSION of the Texas Library Association

The objective of this Association shall be to promote, support, and improve library service in Texas, specifically:

  1. To encourage the identification, development, and maintenance of effective library services which will meet the informational, cultural, educational, and recreational needs of the people of Texas;
  2. To provide for and stimulate the professional and career development of personnel in academic, public, school, and special libraries of Texas;
  3. To facilitate effective cooperation among library personnel in academic, public, school, and special libraries of Texas;
  4. To advance the standards and ideals of the profession;
  5. To increase attention to intellectual freedom and social responsibility as an action-oriented association;
  6. To provide appropriate services to members for the benefit of the profession;
  7. To work cooperatively with other associations and organizations, including local, state, national and international (Texas Mexico Relations Committee), which have similar or allied interests, provided that:
    1. The purpose of the joint activity is supportive of the emphases named above;
    2. The other association has a major role in those activities relating to libraries;
    3. The financial commitment required does not place a major burden upon the regular financial responsibilities of the Association;
    4. The activity has been approved by the Executive Board.
  8. To operate exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes.

       VISION

The Texas Library Association is committed to the highest values of the library and information science profession, quality services and educational opportunities for its members, appropriate information resources and services through the libraries in the state, and an appropriate organizational structure to facilitate the accomplishment of the goals of the Association.

       VALUES

As an association, TLA values the following:

  • Collaboration and partnerships
  • Commitment to Professionalism, Ethical Conduct, and Integrity
  • Promotion and Commitment to Freedom and Equity of Access
  • Development of Leaders
  • Advocacy
  • Commitment to Diversity, Social Responsibility, Underserved and Special Populations 
  • Fostering Educational Opportunities
  • Commitment to Lifelong Literacy, Learning, and Reading, including Support of Local, State, and Federal Initiatives
     

Members of the Texas Library Association (TLA) recognize that the general public, elected officials, and business, media, and community leaders need to be made aware of the specialized training and education inherent in being an information professional.   As information professionals, the membership of TLA recognizes our responsibility to serve as role models and leaders within our communities.  This responsibility includes the promotion of intellectual freedom, high ethical standards, and continued professional education and development.  Additionally, we educate the public on social and political forces that may affect library policies, practices, and services. 

GOAL 1: Promote intellectual freedom.

 

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Publicize the role of the Intellectual Freedom Committee to TLA members and to others outside the Association.
  2. Educate members of the organization and support efforts to combat censorship in all forms. 
  3. Educate the public, elected officials, employers, and leaders about issues related to intellectual freedom.
  4. Publicize the Texas/Proquest Award for Intellectual Freedom.

GOAL 2: Encourage and, where appropriate, coordinate the recruitment and retention of qualified individuals, especially cultural and ethnic minorities, to the profession of library and information science.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Develop a statewide program of introducing the library profession to students and professionals of all ages. Give presentations about library and information science at schools and organizations.
  2. Maintain relationships with library school programs in order to be aware of their curricula, outreach, and recruitment programs.
  3. Develop materials to aid in workplace recruitment.
  4. Develop retention and mentoring programs to assure that professionals remain active in the profession and in the Association.
  5. Continue to advertise positions available in Texas libraries.

GOAL 3: Promote pay and advancement equity.

OBJECTIVES:
  1. Regularly update and publicize a recommended minimum entry-level salary for librarians with master’s degrees in library science and/or information science.
  2. Provide tools and strategies to enable librarians to advocate successfully for equitable pay.

GOAL 4: Promote professional standards and conduct in the profession.

OBJECTIVES:
  1. Support efforts and offer information regarding the need for appropriate professional certification of librarians as required.

  2. Encourage, support, and provide ethics training and awareness of the TLA ethics statement.

  3. Collect and disseminate information regarding professionalism/professional conduct to the membership.
  4. Maintain active involvement in the development of standards that affect librarians (e.g., digital resources, public libraries, school libraries, etc.
  5. Encourage member participation and leadership in the American Library Association and other professional organizations in the US and abroad.

GOAL 5: Promote research in all areas of library service.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Support research efforts related to library services by disseminating findings and research progress reports through Texas Library Journal and other means.
  2. Promote the collection of outcome measures for library services.

GOAL 6:  Promote, strengthen, and support other library staffs.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Collect salary and classification schedules for paraprofessional/support library staffs.
  2. Educate and inform all professional, paraprofessional, and support staff regarding the ethics of the profession.
  3. Emphasize career and leadership opportunities, pay and advancement equity, and a diverse work force for all staffs.
  4. Support initiatives that address standards and credentials of library staffs.

GOAL 7:  Inform and advise Texas librarians and decision makers of federal and state mandates that affect the values of the profession.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Monitor legislation and report implications of such acts on local library policies and practices.
  2. Cooperate with related library and information services organizations to ensure a consistent and reasoned message about applicable legislation is conveyed to persons interested in libraries and information services in Texas.

Advocacy, public information, and marketing efforts are related and serve to enhance the perception of libraries and librarians, emphasize their value, and thus increase support for programs and initiatives.

GOAL 1.  Provide public information campaigns in Texas and provide support, advice, and education to librarians to improve their own public information activities as well.

 OBJECTIVES:

  1. Constantly seek to evaluate and improve TLA’s public information efforts on behalf of the libraries and librarians of Texas.
  2. Collect, disseminate, and showcase best practices and highlight successful projects, including those using technology and electronic resources, in as many venues as possible including those outside typical library ones.
  3. Continue efforts to promote access to electronic resources through programs and presentations to the public, elected officials, and administrators of parent organizations.
  4. Teach librarians good public relations techniques and ideas through multiple and varied professional development opportunities, including but not limited to annual conference, district meetings, and publications.
  5. Consult with public information professionals as necessary to improve strategies relating to image, promotion of issues, planning campaigns, and developing legislative agendas.

Goal 2.  Market librarianship in Texas; and provide support, education, and advice to librarians to do their own marketing as well.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Constantly seek to evaluate and improve TLA’s marketing efforts on behalf of the libraries and librarians of Texas.
  2. Promote writing, research, and publication on issues that impact libraries and librarians.
  3. Encourage and support interdisciplinary publications and programs about libraries and librarianship.
  4. Increase efforts to market library initiatives, publications, and programs through presentations, exhibits, etc., to other groups and organizations and beyond typical library venues.
  5. Collect quantitative and qualitative information on the value and use of libraries and professional library service and disseminate to parent organizations and the public.
  6. Offer marketing techniques, tips, and ideas to librarians for use at the local level through varied and multiple professional development opportunities including but not limited to annual conference, district meetings, and publications.

Goal 3.  Inform librarians about local, state, and federal issues which impact libraries and library service and empower them to take meaningful actions on those issues. 

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Provide advocacy training to equip members with the skills to be effective advocates for libraries.
  2. Encourage and support members to be effective advocates.
  3. Develop and disseminate short and long term legislative goals in a proactive manner.
  4. Develop action plans for legislative activities at the district and state levels.
  5. Monitor and disseminate information about legislation and issues crucial to the profession so that all members will have the opportunity to understand and participate in the legislative process.
  6. Position librarians as resource people to provide information and influence decision-making on policy boards, public commissions, and advisory groups.
  7. Improve communication between members and elected officials at all levels.
  8. Support TLA and ALA legislative activities, including “Legislative Days” with attendance stipends and encouragement of units to provide financial support for unit members.

Goal 4.  Inform the public and public officials about local, state, and federal issues which impact libraries and library service, seeking their support and meaningful actions on those issues.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Provide advocacy training to equip friends, trustees, library users, and citizens with the skills to be effective advocates for libraries.
  2. Promote communication among the various friends.
  3. Position library allies as resource people ton-making on policy boards, public commissions, and advisory groups.
  4. Advocate for funding and protection of historical and archival collections.

TLA members work together to establish goals, identify shared needs, solve common problems, and create solutions.  To be the most effective organization possible, TLA must develop strategies to recruit and retain members, encourage their active involvement, and develop services to address their ongoing and evolving needs and concerns.

GOAL 1: Strengthen the organization by attracting and retaining members who represent all types of libraries and who are committed to, and involved with, the goals and programs of the Association.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Communicate benefits of individual and institutional memberships.
  2. Emphasize the total benefits package and the value of membership in the Association.
  3. Recruit members, including: all types of librarians, lay advocates, paraprofessionals/support staffs, vendors, exhibitors, volunteers, international librarians, and minorities.
  4. Proactively recruit members through library schools, district meetings, other professional associations and meetings, professional publications, etc.
  5. Support TLA mentoring programs.
  6. Keep dues schedule attractive to encourage new members as well as to retain current members.

GOAL 2: Provide the highest quality service to Association members.

 

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Identify and provide services that meet the needs of individual members in all learning environments and that benefit the Association.
  2. Continue to investigate revenue sources for the Association.
  3. Continue to provide high quality annual conferences.
  4. Provide support to TLA districts.
  5. Continue to enhance services and communications with members utilizing current technology
  6. Continue to improve print and electronic publications of TLA.

The efforts and support of many organizations and individuals strengthen the ability to best serve our communities.  

GOAL 1: Develop and promote opportunities for collaboration with other associations, organizations, and entities.

 

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Cultivate relationships with the American Library Association and other professional organizations in the US and abroad.
  2. Strengthen relationships with cultural organizations such as museums, archives, humanities, and literacy.
  3. Seek opportunities for collaborative relationships with foundations and organizations on issues related to library concerns.
  4. Pursue collaborations with non-traditional sources.
  5. Foster collaborative relationships with other organization, companies, individuals, and corporate partners to develop and promote programs for Texas libraries.

GOAL 2: Provide a leadership role in library cooperation and statewide resource sharing.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Serve as a catalyst for the implementation and integration of statewide resource sharing programs. 
  2. Foster growth and funding initiatives for resource sharing projects, both existing and possible. 
  3. Develop cooperative programs and joint projects with cultural institutions and groups in the state.


Through an aggressive program of continuing education, TLA supports the professional growth and development of the library community.

 

GOAL 1: Provide continuing education opportunities for the entire library community.

 

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Enhance training opportunities that will assist in the growth and development of library personnel.
  2. Emphasize the continuing education aspects of the Annual Conference programming and exhibits for all types of librarians.
  3. Publicize continuing education opportunities sponsored outside the Association.
  4. Explore new delivery systems for continuing education.
  5. Collaborate with continuing education stakeholders.

GOAL 2: Develop leadership skills in the membership and utilize those skills within the Association.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Expand leadership opportunities for all members through conference programming and other means.
  2. Promote leadership in the library community through TALL Texans including the provision of financial support.
  3. Investigate the possibility of additional leadership institutes, including but not limited to a senior leadership institute.
  4. Mentor members to assume leadership roles within TLA.

GOAL 3: Expand access to continuing education opportunities in all areas of the state through distance education programming.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Investigate and implement new media for delivery. 
  2. Promote and expand distance education programs using the appropriate technology.

GOAL 4: Support continuing education opportunities for those persons satisfying requirements for professional certification and/or standards.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Maintain and support position statements of professional certification.
  2. Furnish necessary documentation for continuing education activities.

GOAL 5: Provide scholarships and grant opportunities.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Create scholarship and grant programs for members to participate in continuing education and leadership training.
  2. Publicize and promote existing resources for scholarships and grants.
  3. Promote grants for librarian exchange opportunities in Texas and abroad.

 

The Association is committed to providing excellence in library services for all ages and special populations; to serving the people of Texas through the various stages of their lives; and to meeting their specialized needs.

Goal 1: Promote, strengthen, and support library services to children and young adults.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Encourage adequate staffing to meet the needs of children and young adults in Texas.
  2. Advocate for and recognize the value of graduate level education and professional expertise for children’s and young adult librarians.
  3. Seek endorsement from other children's and young adult advocacy groups for legislative action requiring professional staffing.
  4. Advocate equitable allocation of resources in school and public libraries to guarantee that children and young adults have access to current and relevant information in all formats.

GOAL 2: Promote literacy and lifelong learning for the people of Texas.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Provide opportunities for lifelong learning.
  2. Collect and disseminate descriptions of literacy programs by region and by library type.
  3. Encourage support of literacy programs for the English-speaking and non English-speaking populations of Texas.
  4. Encourage lifelong reading through statewide initiatives.
  5. Encourage voluntary participation in statewide reading programs.
  6. Support efforts and programs that promote information literacy.
  7. Encourage local, regional, and statewide efforts to reward, publish, and interpret historical events.

The vitality of the Association depends upon the active participation of a large number of members, good communication within the Association, and a sound financial condition.

GOAL 1: Maintain cohesiveness and effective channels of communication with all constituencies within TLA.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Publish summaries or condensations of the minutes of Council and Executive Board meetings.
  2. Educate members on the structure and organization of TLA and how they may become involved.
  3. Broaden opportunities for members from a wide array of the organization to serve in leadership positions in order to reflect the diversity of the organization.   
  4. Review and revise on a regular basis all unit and committee charges, as appropriate.
  5. Increase participation at the district level.

GOAL 2:  Maintain regular contact with members to ensure responsiveness to their needs and interests.   

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Provide alternative methods for soliciting member input.
  2. Periodically administer formal member surveys.

GOAL 3: Maintain financial stability and strengthen the financial resources of the Association.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Maintain a financial management system that provides for long range planning and incorporates measures of financial health.
  2. Implement best practices through a formalized system of updating the Association’s Business and Investment Plans on a regular basis.
  3. Invite contributions to the Library Endowment and Advancement Fund (LEAF).
  4. Encourage increased funding for scholarships, research grants, and conference attendance stipends.

GOAL 4: Promote preservation and the value of archival evidence within TLA.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Encourage officers and unit chairs to maintain complete and accurate documentation of TLA’s work and to insure that the association’s record assets are appropriately transferred, appraised, and preserved.
  2. Continue building TLA’s archives and maintaining those records for TLA and public use utilizing the most appropriate technology.
  3. Foster an awareness of TLA’s history and the ongoing role libraries play in the education and development of the state’s citizenry.
  1. Each Strategic Plan will cover a three-year period.
  2. In year three of the current Plan, the President-elect will appoint a Planning Committee, comprised of the Executive Board and Councilors from each of the four divisions, with a chair selected from the TLA membership. The term of appointment will be from Annual Conference until such time as the new Strategic Plan is completed.
  3. The process for updating the Strategic Plan should comprise evaluating the existing Plan and what has been accomplished and revising the Plan in light of this evaluation and new issues or priorities that have arisen.
  4. The chair of each unit and committee will receive a copy of the current Plan from the Planning Committee chair and will be asked to submit a written evaluation of the unit's/committee’s accomplishments and progress in achieving the Association's goals and objectives as set out in the Plan and to make recommendations for revision of the Plan. This will be due following Annual Assembly.
  5. The Planning Committee will meet at the Annual Conference to review the existing Plan, outline a calendar of activities, and identify specific areas for review or investigation.
  6. During the Annual Assembly meeting, members of the Planning Committee will attend the meetings of each unit of the Association in their capacity as Executive Board liaison or Councilor to a division. Evaluation of unit and committee accomplishments and recommendations for revision of the Plan should be requested as part of each meeting agenda.
  7. The Planning Committee chair will receive the written evaluations/ recommendations and develop a draft revision of the Plan to be discussed by the Committee at a meeting held in the fall. (This meeting could be held in conjunction with the Executive Board meeting usually held in early December.)
  8. A revised Plan will be disseminated in the spring for comment at the membership meeting held during the Annual Conference. Written comment from the membership will also be invited. The Planning Committee will approve the final Plan before submission to Council at Annual Assembly.
  9. Once the Plan has been approved by Council, each unit will be charged with establishing strategies for that unit for accomplishing the Association's goals and objectives and a mechanism for evaluating their progress over the next three-year period. Unit chairs may appoint a committee or take responsibility for this activity themselves. It is important that each new unit chair understands this responsibility and receives from the previous chair copies of the Plan and the unit's activities as they relate to the Plan.

Under the above schedule, updated plans are reviewed and approved by the TLA Council in July 2009, July 2012, and July 2015. The next plan would follow this detailed schedule:

MARCH 2008: IMMEDIATELY UPON LEARNING ELECTION RESULTS, THE NEWLY-ELECTED PRESIDENT-ELECT WILL ACTIVATE THE PLANNING PROCESS BY:

  1. APPOINTING A CHAIR TO FACILITATE AND LEAD THE PLANNING PROCESS;
  2. NOTIFYING THE DIVISIONAL COUNCILORS AND CHAIRS THAT DIVISIONAL COUNCILORS WILL SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE;
  3. NOTIFYING THE TLA EXECUTIVE BOARD THAT THEY WILL SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE.
 APRIL 2008: THE PLANNING COMMITTEE WILL MEET DURING ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO:

  1. REVIEW THE EXISTING PLAN;
  2. OUTLINE A CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES;
  3. IDENTIFY SPECIFIC AREAS FOR REVIEW OR INVESTIGATION;
  4. APPROVE THE FORM SOLICITING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMITTEES AND UNITS.

THE PLANNING COMMITTEE TRANSMITS THE FEEDBACK FORM TO CHAIRS OF TLA
UNITS AND COMMITTEES AT THE INCOMING OFFICERS BRIEFING SESSION AND ASKS THE UNITS AND COMMITTEES TO:

  1. EVALUATE THE UNIT/COMMITTEE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PROGRESS IN ACHIEVING THE ASSOCIATION’S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AS SET OUT IN THE PLAN; AND,
  2. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISION OF THE PLAN.
JULY 2008: THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETS AT ANNUAL ASSEMBLY AND ATTENDS THE MEETINGS OF EACH UNIT AND COMMITTEE IN THEIR CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE BOARD LIAISON OR DIVISIONAL COUNCILOR.  THEIR PURPOSE IS TO REQUEST THE UNIT/COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TO RECOMMEND REVISIONS.

EARLY FALL 2008: PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIR RECEIVES WRITTEN EVALUATIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS AND DEVELOPS A DRAFT REVISION FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE BOARD’S FALL MEETING.

EARLY SPRING 2009: A COPY OF THE REVISED STRATEGIC PLAN WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO THE MEMBERSHIP WITH AN INVITATION FOR WRITTEN COMMENT AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT A PUBLIC DISCUSSION WILL OCCUR AT THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING HELD DURING ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

CONFERENCE 2009: THE REVISED PLAN WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING HELD DURING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

JUNE 2009: THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETS TO REVISE THE PLAN BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMENT CARDS, FROM DISCUSSIONS AT THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING, AND FROM UNIT/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS DURING ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

JULY 2009: THE PLAN IS SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. UNITS AND COMMITTEES WILL BE CHARGED WITH ESTABLISHING STRATEGIES TO ACCOMPLISH GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND TO EVALUATE PROGRESS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

MARCH 2011: THE PROCESS BEGINS AGAIN.
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