Library and Association News

April 2008

TLA Awards announced in Dallas  at the TLA 2008 Annual Conference.

April 2007

TLA Awards announced in San Antonio at the TLA 2007 Annual Conference.

April 2006

TLA Awards announced in Houston at the TLA 2006 Annual Conference.

April 2005

TLA Awards were presented in Austin at the association's annual conference .
Rally for Texas Libraries drew 2500 noisy librarians and library supporters.

March 2005

TLA held its first online Executive Board election this year. New officers are: Jana Knezek, president-elect;
Janet Key, treasurer; and Yvonne Chandler and Chris Salerno, representatives-at-large.

February 2005

TOGO by Robert J. Blake is the 2005 Texas Bluebonnet Award winner. 

RELEASE (Togo Leads the Pack in Bluebonnet Voting)

April 2004

Proposed Public Library Standards Ready for Comment

The TLA/TSLAC joint taskforce on public library standards and minimum criteria has presented a draft document of the Public Library Standards to the Texas library community. You are encouraged to read it and comment. You may enter comments online through May. There will also be meetings in each library system where you may comment in person.

Special Session Called on School Finance

The Fourth Special Session of the 78th Texas Legislature has been called to deal primarily with the funding structure for public schools and educational reform. Virtually all education, business, and special interest lobbies are following this issue closely, because (in some fashion) a new taxing structure will affect almost all areas of state operations.  School libraries, which are funded through the state’s education system (from both state and local dollars), and public libraries, which are funded primarily through local governments and taxing districts, will certainly be affected by any state changes.

Information on hearings and “calls to action” on specific legislative matters will be sent through Texline  (TLA's online legislative 1ssues newsletter) as the session progresses. 

March 2004

Election Results

The newly-elected  members of the TLA Executive Board are  Gretchen McCord Hoffmann (attorney, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. ; Austin) as president-elect,  and Caroline Kienzle (director of Learning Resources, Irving ISD ) as representative-at-large. In addition, Sharon Amastae will replace Jeanne Martinez as TLA's American Library Association Councilor following ALA's annual meeting this June  in Orlando, Florida. Retiring from the board are Barry Bishop (Spring Branch ISD, Houston), past president, and  Shirley Wallick (San Jacinto Elementary, Amarillo), representative-at-large. 

Proposition I, which allows TLA to conduct electronic balloting, passed with a 98% majority. 

AWARDS & GRANTS announced at TLA Annual Conference in San Antonio, March 17-20

April 9, 2003

AWARDS & GRANTS announced at TLA Annual Conference in Houston, April 1-4. 
 PHOTOS

  • TLA Awards  
  • Other Awards
    • Siddie Joe Johnson Award: Caro Ann Germann (Houston; The Kinkaid School)
    • Knowledge Is Power Award:  Cathy Hartman (Denton; University of North Texas)
    • Small Community Librarian of the Year: Connie Walker (Venus; Joe A. Hall Community Library)
    • Highsmith Awards: Chisholm Trail Middle School (Rhome); Arlington Public Library 
    • Hotho Literacy Award:  Beth Perry (Palestine Public Library)
    • DEMCO Research Grant: Teri Lesesne (Sam Houston State University)
    • TLA/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award: Jerilynn Williams (Montgomery County Library System)
    • Love Award: McMullen Memorial Library (Huntington)
    • Dobie Awards: Bremond Public Library, Everman Public Library, Jackson County Public Library, Little Elm Community Public Library, Ranger City Public Library, and Wolfe City Public Library
    • Woll Memorial Grant: Masonic Home ISD (Ft. Worth); Tom Burnett Memorial Library (Iowa Park)

January 2003

2003 Texas Bluebonnet Award winner announced.

April 2002

Awards presented at annual conference in Dallas, April 23-26:

  • TLA Awards
    • Librarian of the Year: Jeanie Spivey (Olney Community Library)
    • Distinguished Service Award: Robert Martin (director of IMLS)
    • Outstanding Service to Libraries: Mary Margaret Farabee
    • Benefactor Award: Bill and Sally Wittliff
    • Library Project of the Year: The Original Search Engine (Fort Worth Public)
  • Other Awards
    • Siddie Joe Johnson Award: Jeanette Larson (Austin Public Library)
    • Knowledge Is Power Award:  Bonnie Grobar
    • Highsmith Awards: 
      • Library Award: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
      • School Library Media Award: Montgomery County Memorial Library System for Reading Odyssey 
    • Hotho Literacy Award: Alexander Memorial Library (Cotulla)
      Donna Van Cleve, director; Emma Garza, literacy instructor
    • DEMCO Research Grant: Sylvia M. Vardell (SLIS, Texas Woman's University); Using Technology to Re-examine Children's Poetry Preferences
    • TLA/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award: Dr. William Holda (Kilgore College)

March 2002

Texas Library Champions 1902-2002 - a TLA Centennial project
sample press release (doc)

New TLA Executive Board Members: 

  • President-Elect: Eva Poole, Denton Public Library  
  • Treasurer: S. Joe McCord
  • Representative-at-Large, School: Cindy Buchanan
  • Representative-at-Large, Other: Rose Marie McElfresh

TLA Dues Increase: first in 20 years 

April 2001

Awards presented at Annual conference 2001 in San Antonio, March 28-31.

  • Librarian of the Year: Robert Gaines (Central Texas Library System)
  • Distinguished Service Award: S. Joe McCord (University of Houston-Clear Lake)
  • Outstanding Service to Libraries: Laura Bush
  • Benefactor Awards: 
    • Exxon Mobil Baytown Complex (Sterling Municipal Library)
    • Mary Smith Fay (Houston Public Library Board)
    • Fort Worth Public Library Foundation
  • Library Project of the Year: Window on the World (Pasadena Public Library)

March 2001

New TLA Executive Board Members Announced

May 2000

Pictures:     APL (Elva Garza, Brenda Branch)      South Texas ISD     Gatlin      Hughes      Kramig      Reliant Energy  (Cathy Guy, Barbara Gubbin, Robert Gibbs, Anna Rosas)

April 2000

New TLA Executive Board Members Announced

March 2000

October 1999

TLA Director of Communications Announced
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