Volume 17, Number 1
January 1998
In this issue:
Set Your Sights on San Antonio--TLA
1998
Hundreds of programs, exhibits, and lots of fun await attendees
Mark your calendars and make your arrangements to join more than 7,000 of your colleagues in San Antonio April 1-4, for the 1998 Texas Library Association Annual Conference. In what promises to be the most rewarding TLA yet, preconfer-ences will start on Wednesday, April 1, with the full conference opening Thursday, April 2. This pattern of meeting Wednesday through Saturday--a departure from TLA’s long established Tuesday-to-Friday conference pattern--is a test of member response to meeting on weekends and thus avoiding an additional day away from work. This will also give attendees an opportunity to spend Friday evening in one of the most historic and romantic cities in the country.
The conference theme--”Texas Libraries: Local Touch, Global Reach”--will be echoed throughout the more than 200 events and 220 speakers who will address the interests and needs of librarians and library advocates in all types and sizes of libraries. Featured speakers such as Dan Rather, Julia Alvarez, Peg Neuhauser, and Laura Bush, will explore the impact of libraries on their own lives and explore the broader significance of our libraries, both local and global.
The preconferences offer a unique continuing education opportunity as they explore in detail topics ranging from building digital library services to building community partnerships, from collection development to computer security.
Attendees will choose among dozens of programs featuring such notable speakers as the two candidates for ALA President, Martín Gómez and Sarah Long, speaking on whether the Internet will make libraries obsolete (April 4, 11-11:50 a.m.); Los Angeles Public Library Director Susan Kent, ALA President Barbara Ford, and Lehigh University Vice Provost Arnold Hirshon on the controversial topic of outsourcing (April 4, 10-11:20 a.m.); Oklahoma City Library District Director Lee Brawner on his intellectual freedom battles over the “Tin Drum” (April 2, 10-11:50 a.m.); and ALA’s Director of Outreach Services, Satia Marshall Orange, on “Equity, Diversity, and Access in Your Library” (April 3, 10-10:50 a.m.).
If meeting your favorite authors is your thing, this year’s conference will thrill you. Adult readers will enjoy Anne Perry, John Ridley, William Diehl, Jodi Thomas, Susan Rogers Cooper, and many others. Among the many notable children’s authors on hand will be Lynn Munsinger, Victor Martinez, Patricia and Fred McKissack, Rosemary Wells, Ken Mochizuki, and Peggy Rathmann.
This year’s exhibits will provide conference attendees the opportunity to browse over 700 booths featuring the products of more than 400 exhibiting companies. The broad array of products includes books and other library materials, equipment and services for automation and networking, furniture and supplies, consulting services, storytelling, and promotional products and services. The availability of these vendors and products in one place offers a unique opportunity to comparison shop for goods and services your library needs. TLA is also very pleased to welcome a number of companies from Mexico to this year’s exhibits.
When day is done, you will find yourself in one of the most lovely cities anywhere, abounding with restaurants, cafes, and shops, as well as its famous historical sites and other attractions. And all TLA members are invited to participate in great after-hours conference events. A rare treat awaits those who attend the Welcome Party at the San Antonio Museum of Art, a National Register of Historic Places landmark that has been converted from the old Lone Star Brewery to an art museum featuring a world-class collection of American, European, and Latin American art. The President’s Party at the magnificent San Antonio Central Library will offer a chance to network with colleagues while viewing one of the most architecturally interesting libraries in the world. Other conference activities include walking tours of San Antonio, the tenth annual Hetherington Fun Run/Walk, and the TPALS Golf Tournament at the beautiful Pecan Valley Golf Club.
Come one, come all and have a great time at the TLA Annual Conference. See you on the River Walk!
SW Bell Awards $100,000 to TLA for
Grants
Operation KidsLearn to serve children in Texas cities
The Southwestern Bell Foundation has awarded $100,000 to the Texas Library Association for an innovative one-year education program called Operation KidsLearn.
The funds have been granted to TLA to assist public libraries in acquiring telecommunications and other high-tech learning tools that provide enhanced access to information for children in disadvantaged, urban environments. The funds will be granted to Texas public libraries through a competitive grant program. Libraries and branches in Southwestern Bell service area that serve populations of 100,000 or more persons and whose populations include significant numbers of economically, educationally, or linguistically disadvantaged persons are eligible to apply. Maximum grant awards will be $30,000.
Application forms were mailed to eligible libraries January 21. Grant proposals will be due at the TLA office by March 13 and award winners will be announced at the closing luncheon at the TLA Annual Conference in San Antonio, April 4.
“Southwestern Bell’s successful and growing partnership with the Texas Library Association has been a pioneering effort,” said Patricia H. Smith, TLA executive director. “This is an exciting opportunity for public and private interests to take the lead in demonstrating how the Internet and technology can be used to enhance library services and effectively combat illiteracy in our communities,” said Ms. Smith.
“Southwestern Bell has pledged to serve and support every community in which it operates by increasing opportunities in education, literacy, and technology,” said David Cole, president for Southwestern Bell--Texas. “Operation KidsLearn is another example of our commitment to providing education for children in Texas,” said Mr. Cole.
TLA will appoint a committee to evaluate and rank grant applications. The highest scoring proposals will earn funding. Criteria used to evaluate the grants will include--but may not be limited to:
Library administrators who wish to receive further information about Operation KidsLearn are encouraged to contact Mark Smith, TLA director of communications, at 800-580-2852 or 512-328-1518; e-mail: marks@txla.org.
TLACast Interviews the ALA Candidates
TLA members will have an opportunity to meet both candidates for president of the American Library Association at the TLA Annual Conference in San Antonio. Martín Gómez, director of the Brooklyn Public Library, and Sarah Long, director of the North Suburban Library System in Illinois, will co-present at a program entitled “Reports of Our Death Are Greatly Exaggerated. . .,” on the question of whether the Internet will replace libraries (April 4, 11-11:50 a.m.). To give TLA members an opportunity to get to know the candidates, TLACast solicited responses to the following three questions from each candidate. Following are the questions and the answers of each candidate.
Why should the rank-and-file librarian want to join ALA?
Martín Gómez: Here are ten reasons why a rank-and-file librarian should join ALA:
Sarah Long: The primary value in joining a professional association is that it will help to keep you current in the field. It will also provide networking opportunities with others who are active in your areas of special interest, and open the door to greater leadership experiences. In that respect, membership in TLA and ALA are complementary, for you will gain both statewide and nationwide contacts and continuing education opportunities.
As you know, there is now legislation pending in the U.S. Senate that would restrict the distribution of pornography on the Internet. Are there any circumstances under which you would support federal legislation to restrict Internet content?
Martín Gómez: ALA went to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect free speech in an electronic environment. This is consistent with the Library Bill of Rights and our stand on intellectual freedom. As chief purveyors of public access to information, libraries must continue to oppose any federal attempts to restrict free speech, including Internet content. However, ALA must continue to be involved in shaping national policy. ALA should continue to work with our members and lawmakers to find solutions that we can all live with. As president of ALA, this is the approach that I would take.
Sarah Long: The ALA has adopted a policy on filtering, and launched a positive communications program intended to guide youth, parents, and caregivers on exceptional and appropriate sites that will serve their needs. I support both the ALA’s policies and programs, and I would oppose any federal legislation that would restrict intellectual freedom, whether it involves the Internet or other media. At the same time, I recognize the pressures that are being placed upon libraries of all types, and I support the effort initiated by ALA President-elect Ann Symons to develop an intellectual freedom statement and policies appropriate to the twenty-first century.
In Texas, many of our libraries—especially school libraries—are finding it difficult to fill professional positions. What can ALA do to encourage young people to enter the field of librarianship?
Martín Gómez: People choose a profession because they believe that there are rewards to be gained by joining that profession. The awards might be financial, social, intellectual or emotional. ALA should help develop “advocates for the profession” who are willing to take responsibility to speak on behalf of the rewards in our profession. ALA should, in turn, reward its members for recruiting people into the profession.
We also need to tell the story about our profession from an institutional perspective. We don’t yet have a library-based TV sitcom or drama, but if we did, it could help us get our message out. In the meantime, ALA could create a national campaign that tells the story about how libraries help businesses and individuals succeed. We all know how libraries contribute to the cultural wealth of a community or turn inner-city kids into poets and cyber-gurus, but the rest of the world doesn’t. ALA recently established the Spectrum Initiative, a recruitment and scholarship program that will provide financial aid for at least 150 people to become librarians over the next three years. This is a great beginning. Let’s build on this important first step!
Sarah Long: I believe there are two issues associated with recruitment to the profession. The first is the vital importance of attracting more culturally diverse students to our graduate programs, and I am strongly in favor of ALA’s Spectrum Initiative, which will offer scholarships to under-represented minorities to attend ALA-accredited programs. The second issue is the continuing need to improve the public’s perception of library and information service, and to enhance our skills as service providers. As a profession, we must make a commitment to invest in ourselves by preparing to meet future challenges and opportunities. ALA has a vital role to play in this, and it is among the key issues I will address as ALA President.
Voters Approve Westbank Library
District
5 to 1 approval for first district formed in Texas under new
law
Voters in the Eanes School District outside Austin have overwhelmingly approved a proposal to create a library district to be funded by a half- cent increase in sales tax within the district borders. The new district--now legally known as the Westbank Community Library District--is the first such district to be approved in Texas under a law passed in the last legislative session that allows voters to choose to raise their sales tax and to dedicate that revenue to library services.
Library officials in Westbank anticipate that revenue from the district will be approximately $525,000 per year. Current library funding is about $200,000 per year. In the same ballot item, voters also approved the slate of candidates proposed to become the first governing board of the library district.
Voters approved the district by a margin of about five-to-one with 1,120 votes in favor of the district and 213 opposed; however, voter turnout was only about nine percent of registered voters.
The legislation enabling the creation of library districts was passed during the 1997 legislative session and was supported by the Texas Library Association. The law allows districts to be formed in areas that do not currently appropriate municipal funds for library service. Also, the law only allows formation of library districts in counties with population of 100,000 or more.
The Westbank Community Library receives only $1 of local government funding, with the balance coming from donations, fund-raising, and non-member fees. Income from the district will allow library staff to turn their attention from fundraising to other management matters, including the construction of a new library facility.
Jeanette Larson Appointed Director of Library Development
Jeanette Larson has been named director of the Library Development Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission effective January 1, 1998. Ms. Larson had served as the interim director of the division since the previous director, Edward Seidenberg, was appointed director of the State Library’s Administration Services Division. Ms. Larson joined the staff of the State Library in 1991 and served as the manager of consulting and continuing education until her appointment as Library Development director.
Ms. Larson’s new duties will include directing the Commission’s statewide program to assist local governments in providing and improving public library services. As manager of consulting and continuing education, Ms. Larson directed several key projects, including the development of statewide standards for school libraries and a training program for non-degreed directors of small public libraries.
Bush Presidential Library Opens in College
Station
Library features exhibits and research materials
Texas is now home to a brand new presidential library. The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum has welcomed over 80,000 visitors since its opening November 7, with a daily attendance of about 1,000. The museum’s exhibits range from home movies to a World War II Avenger Torpedo Bomber, a 1947 Studebaker, and domestic and foreign gifts.
In telling the story of President George Bush, the museum entwines his personal life with major events of world history, with education and public service as recurring themes. Barbara Bush and her work for family literacy, AIDS prevention, and volunteerism is honored in a special section. There is also a classroom for school children equipped with twenty-three computers for interactive learning experiences.
The library’s archives, located on the second and third floors of the library, and a research room, complete with outlets for laptop computers, are now also open to the public. Those interested in immediate access to Bush’s public presidential papers should visit the George Bush Digital Library, a link from the library’s Web page at http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/bushlib/.
Curator Patricia Burchfield will present “A Virtual Visit to the George Bush Presidential Library” at the TLA Annual Conference, April 3, 9-9:50 a.m. Ms. Burchfield will preview the library’s exhibits through slides and also present a brief history of presidential libraries and recount the adventures of moving 38 million documents, two million photographic images, and 60,000 artifacts from Washington D.C. to College Station. (Yes, it’s true--a vacated bowling alley was the temporary repository of the historic documents that now reside in the library complex on 90 acres of land.)
Admission is $3.00 for adults; children under 16 free. For more information on museum hours, call the museum directly at 409-260-9552. For archival reference information, dial extension 264; for audio/visual reference desk, dial 248.
Barbara Bush Foundation to Fund Literacy Grants
The Barbara Bush Foundation has announced that applications are now being accepted for The First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas. Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to applicants with projects that focus on reading instruction for both parents and children. Priority will be given to projects that collaborate with public schools or school districts which use validated assessment instruments to diagnose students’ reading skills in the early grade levels (pre-K through 3).
This statewide initiative is a partnership of First Lady of Texas Laura Bush, who serves as Honorary Chair, the Barbara Bush Foundation, and Texas literacy providers.
Grants are designed to be used as seed money and are given on a one-time basis to support start-up or expansion of worthy family literacy programs. Among other conditions for eligibility, applicants must have a specific reading program that has operated for at least two years and that research-based and proven to increase reading skills. Libraries are among the entities that may apply for grants.
Grant applications should be mailed to the First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas and must be received by close of business Friday, April 24, 1998. For application forms and other information, contact Margy Short, Grant Coordinator, 711 Louisiana, 33rd Floor, Houston, TX, 77002-2716; 713/336-7889. fax: 713/336-7887.
Preconference to Address Cooperative Learning Applications
The Library Instruction Round Table of TLA is sponsoring an interactive preconference program entitled "Cooperative Learning: Library Applications" on April 1, 1998, in San Antonio. Educators across Texas are using cooperative learning techniques in classrooms from elementary to graduate schools. Librarians looking for an alternative to the common tour or the standard BI lecture will find it in cooperative learning.
“Cooperative Learning: Library Applications” will provide both an introduction to and practical applications of cooperative learning techniques for library instruction. The workshop will be led by speakers from the Deming Quality Improvement Group of Texas A&M University - Kingsville, all graduates of the Johnson & Johnson Leadership Training program in cooperative learning. The Deming Group will lead a morning session introducing the reasons supporting cooperative learning and the basics of designing cooperative learning exercises. True to their ideals, this will not be a lecture presentation! Cooperative learning will be demonstrated and applied as well as introduced. Afternoon breakout sessions will be organized by type of library setting. Participants will plan cooperative learning activities for their specific needs. TLA members with experience in cooperative learning are encouraged to volunteer to lead these breakout sessions. Librarians from elementary schools, secondary schools, and college or university libraries are encouraged to attend, cooperate, and learn!
CULD Plans TLA Conference
Presentations
Preconference, Programs to address academic libraries
TLA’s College and University Libraries Division (CULD) will offer several timely and informative programs at the TLA Annual Conference in San Antonio, beginning with a half-day preconference April 1 on the topic of distance learning, digital courses, and academic libraries. Tom Wilding, director of the UT Arlington Libraries, will present this preconference, entitled, “Out of the Classroom, Out of the Library: Distance Learning and Information Services.” The program will feature a group of Texas and national experts and offer insights from their experiences implementing academic library distance learning services.
CULD will also present two conference programs. The first will feature Donald E. Riggs of the Nova Southeastern University’s Einstein Library, who will address the topic of “Change: Riding the Whitewater Rapids of Change in Academic Libraries,” April 3, 10-11 a.m. Mr. Riggs is no stranger to change, having lead library organizations in several major universities such as the University of Michigan , Arizona State University Libraries, and his present position at Nova Southeastern University.
Following a CULD business meeting, the second program will begin at 11:20 a.m. with Barbara J. Ford, current ALA President, and executive director, University Library Services, Virginia Commonwealth University. Ms. Ford will address the topic of digital libraries and change: “Libraries and the Digital Future, or the Role of the Library Professional in Guiding Change.” Ms. Ford will share insights gained from her years of professional library experience and her year as ALA President.
Finally, CULD members are encouraged to attend the CULD Executive Board meeting to be held April 1, 11-11:50 a.m.
TL-PAC to Thank Members at Annual Breakfast
The Texas Library Political Action Committee (TL-PAC) will host a scrumptious, hearty (the best breakfast you will have at TLA) buffet on Friday, April 3, 7-8:00 a.m. for members who have given $100 or more to the TL-PAC between April 1997 and February 1998.
Invitations to the breakfast will be mailed in late February to approximately 50 TLA members and supporters. Since its establishment in 1980, TL-PAC has raised over $95,000 and contributed $93,650 to the campaigns of state representatives, senators, and candidates for lieutenant governor and governor. Over the years these donations have allowed libraries to gain significant support for funding efforts and for legislation to better serve Texas libraries and their users. As an example, contributions to Speaker Pete Laney, Representative Scott Hochberg and Lt. Governor Bob Bullock have helped libraries get funding for TexShare, save the standards for school libraries, and get funding for Internet grants to public libraries. Contributions from TLA members and library supporters over the years have made TL-PAC successful. It is not too late to join TL-PAC and make a difference in the future for libraries and library users of Texas.
The TL-PAC is an organization entirely separate from TLA. Send your $100 contribution to TL-PAC by February 20 to join your colleagues at the best breakfast at TLA. All contributions are welcome. Send them to P.O. Box 591684, Houston, Texas 77259-1684. For more information, call TL-PAC Chair Catherine S. Ensign at 713/749-9010.
Enter the TLA Centennial Logo and Theme
Contest
Help TLA celebrate its 100th birthday and win $100
Throughout its almost 100 years, the Texas Library Association has led the way for the advancement of libraries and reading in the state. To celebrate, we invite the public to enter the TLA Logo and Theme Contest. $100 will be awarded to the person whose logo and theme captures the essence of TLA’s contributions. The winning logo and theme will serve as the official advertisement for all centennial events and memorabilia such as posters, t-shirts, totebags, and mugs.
Rules: Entries must: be submitted on 8 1/2 by 11-inch paper; can be in black and white or 4 colors; include a theme and logo. The contest is open to all ages, and contestants need not be TLA members to be eligible. Entries may be submitted by a group. TLA reserves the right to alter the submission, and all entries become the property of TLA. Entries must be postmarked by June 15, 1998 to the TLA office: LOGO CONTEST, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, TX 78746. Winners will be selected at the TLA Annual Assembly meeting in Austin, July 10-12, 1998.
Complete 1998 TLA Annual Conference information is now available on the TLA Web page, including lists of program descriptions, speaker information, online registration forms, and membership application forms. Members can now complete their full conference registration via the TLA Web page.
TLA/Texas Council for the Humanities Grant Program information is available on the TLA Web page (http://www.txla.org) including application forms and guidelines. From the main page select “Member Benefits and Services” to find the TLA/TCH grants information.
The Publications Committee urges members with Web access to complete the Texas Library Journal online reader survey form, which can be found on the TLA Web page. From the front page select “Publications” to find the form. A hard copy of the form is also included in this issue of TLACast. The results of the survey will be used to help make TLJ more responsive to user needs.
We know that Tenet accounts are in transition and that many are now defunct. Members with new e-mail addresses are urged to notify the TLA office by sending a short message to tla@txla.org. We appreciate your assistance in keeping our database current.
Hobby Foundation Pledges $21 Million Gift to Fondren Library
The Hobby Foundation of Houston has announced its intention to donate $21.4
million to the Fondren Library at Rice University. The gift--one of the largest
ever made to a library anywhere--marks the first financial contribution toward
implementing the university’s strategic plan, “Rice: The Next
Century.”
The gift was announced by Rice President Malcolm Gillis on December 11 following a meeting of the university’s Board of Governors. “It is especially gratifying that the first major gift toward our goal of creating a library for the next century should come from a distinguished and widely respected Texas family with deep and longstanding ties to Rice,” said Mr. Gillis.
McNay Offers O'Keeffe and Texas Exhibit
Attendees to the TLA Annual Conference in San Antonio will have an opportunity
to view a major show of paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe at the McNay Art
Museum. O’Keeffe and Texas explores the lasting influence of
O’Keeffe’s early years in Texas and features nearly 50 paintings,
watercolors, and drawings spanning the lengthy career of the artist. The
museum’s permanent collection features works by Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso,
Matisse, and Renoir. The museum is located at 6000 North New Braunfels. For
more information, call: 210-824-5368
TIF Offers Training for Public Library Staff
Staff members from Texas public libraries that received grants from the
Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) attended a training session
held in Austin Friday, January 23. In the morning, public and school librarians
joined together in a general session that included over 1,000 attendees.
In the afternoon, public librarians heard from other libraries that have
implemented Internet connections as well as presentations on full text database
services of the State Library, Internet policies, and other topics.
Fire Destroys Pelican's Louisiana Office
A New Year’s Eve fire destroyed the offices of Pelican Publishing Company
in Gretna, Louisiana, near New Orleans. The fire destroyed computers, a
year’s worth of files, and nearly half the company’s book stock.
No one was injured in the fire. The company will operate from leased space
once computer systems have been restored. The company can be reached at
800-843-1724.
What's in a Name?
Confused by folks with similar names on the TLA staff? Here’s a guide:
Catherine Lee is TLA’s new director of administration. Kathy Pustejovsky
(or just “Kathy P.”) is TLA’s conference and membership manager
and handles most matters related to the TLA conference, Annual Assembly,
and membership services. Cathy Anglin manages conference registration and
other matters relating to finances and administration, and Kathryn Wilkinson
is the TLA receptionist, the cheerful voice most people get on the phone
when they call the office.
Names in the News
Don Buchwald of the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Library, and his wife Carole Buchwald of the South Texas Library System, announce that they are “fully retired” from their positions as of January 31.
Ruth Dahlstrom, formerly of the Goliad ISD, is now the library/technology specialist with ESC Region 3 in Victoria.
Mark Gretchen has been appointed director of the Seguin Public Library.
Sally Reynolds has retired as director of the Legislative Reference Library.
Sandy Sharps, formerly of the Education Service Center Region 10 in Dallas, has taken a position with the Denton ISD.
Flora Wilhite retired as director of the Sterling Municipal Library in Baytown January 31 after three decades of service to the library. Ms. Wilhite recently received the Exxon “Refiner of the Year” award, an annual award presented by the company in honor of contributions to the community.
Death
William K. Peace, former librarian of Lee College in Baytown, TX.
Mr. Peace died on December 24 in Whitewright, TX at the age of 72.