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Conference 2004: 

• Authors

• Spring Break in SA

• Program Highlights

• Special Notices:
  Preconferences & Volunteers

• Have You Raffled?

• TLA Named Champion of Industry

• Executive Board Elections; Electronic Balloting 
  Proposition

• News Briefs

• Grants

• Announcements

• TLA Store

• Names in the News

Q: I was a member of TLA for 4 years, but I didn't renew for 2003. Now I've rejoined. Will I get my same member number back?

A: Welcome back! Yes, you will still have the same member number. We keep our membership records in the database for four to five years, so unless you hadn't renewed since 1999, there would have been no need for a new member number to be assigned.

Q: I renewed my membership electronically (on the Internet) but didn't know my member number at the time.  I called TLA to get my old member number so I could put it on my TLA conference registration, then sent in my registration with my member number on it.  Will they be able to match the two together by my name or will this cause a problem?

A: No, there will not be a problem in matching your registration to your membership.  The reason we ask for a member number on the registration form is so that we can use the data in the membership record, rather than having to re-key all the information.  That does mean, of course, that it's helpful to us for you to renew first so that any changes in your record show up when the data populates the registration form.

Q: When I joined TLA, I misread the electronic registration form and I thought it said county instead of country.  I put Harris instead of USA. How can I go about changing it?

A: You and a number of other people have misread that field on the membership form,  but you don't need to do anything to change it.  On all the online membership applications, we generate a hard copy  and edit the data before loading it into the membership database.  This is the reason that the membership is not instantaneously current when one joins or renews online.

Annual Conference 2004

A Carnivale 
of Professional Activity

Spring is off to a great start with this year's TLA Annual Conference to be held in San Antonio, March 17-20. Conference will feature more than 225 programs, workshops, and events. Speakers and authors from across the state and country include consumer advocate Ralph Nader, commentator Tony Brown, poet Nikki Giovanni, library development expert Glen Holt, organizational guru Shelley Phipps, OCLC researcher Ed O'Neill, digital library expert Roy Tennant, librarian Kathleen de la Peña McCook, one book/one city creator Nancy Pearl, children's specialist Julie Cummins, and civil action commentator Siva Vaidhyanathan.

One Book, One Conference

One great feature to this year's gathering is our first conference-wide reading and discussion series, featuring Mark Dunn's Ella Minnow Pea: A Progressively Lipogrammatic Epistolary Fable. All conference attendees are invited to read Ella Minnow Pea before attending conference and then to participate in a group discussion of the book on Thursday, March 18. Ron Charles of the Christian Science Monitor described the book “as the first political satire of the 21st century, and, appropriately, it's a kinder, gentler satire. Dunn has produced something between a crossword puzzle and a witty political allegory." Mark Dunn will be speaking about his work at the Adult Services Breakfast on Saturday, March 20. It would also be helpful if those attending the “Lead the Discussion” preconference read Ella Minnow Pea in advance.

Exhibits Galore

Of course, TLA would not be complete without our huge tradeshow, which features more than 450 exhibiting companies displaying and demonstrating the broad array of products and services your library needs to improve its offerings­ including books and materials you can purchase on the spot. Also, be sure to attend Exhibit’s Rush Hour, an event sponsored by the Texas Professional Association for Library Sales Round Table, on Thursday, March 18 from 4-5 pm. Refreshments will be served!

Author! Author!

Authors at conference will include Jeff Abbott, Susan Wittig Albert, Kathi Appelt, Ted Arnold, Joan Bauer, Elida Bonet, Libba Bray, Don Brown, Deborah Dennard, Carl Deuker, Tim Dorsey, Adrian Fogelin, Jack Gantos, Xavier Garza, Arthur Geisert, Frances Towner Giedt, Matthew Gollub, John Graves, Diane Greenseid, Scott Haas, Bruce Hale, Will Hillenbrand, Valerie Hobbs, AmyHudson, WadeHudson, Jeremy Jackson, Dean James, Michael Johnson, Kara Lareau, Steven Layne, David Liss, Joe Lopez, D. Anne Love, David Lubar, Walter Mayes, Manuel Medrano, and Pat Mora. Additional authors include Jaclyn Moriarty, Roxie Munro, Jim Murphy, Naomi Shihab Nye, Evelyn Palfrey, Gary Paulsen, Rodman Philbrick, David Rick, RickRiordan, Diane Roberts, S.L. Rottman, Rene Saldaña, David Schwartz, Greg Leitich Smith, Marisa Taylor, Wendelin Van Draanen, Sarah Weeks, Douglas Wood, and Laurence Yep.  

Latest Hotel and Travel News

TLA has just negotiated lower room rates at the San Antonio Westin, TLA’s conference headquarters hotel. The new rates are $170/$259/$259/$259 for single/ double/ triple/ quadruple rooms respectively. If you have already made your room reservation, the new lower rates will automatically apply. Rooms at the Westin are limited, so make your reservations now.

In related news, legislation passed in the 78^th Regular Legislative Session limiting state reimbursement rates for educators was formally repealed by H.B. 7 in the Third Special Session of the 78^th Texas Legislature. In essence, the state has deferred to its previous policy for educator reimbursement rates (as was in place for the 2003 conference).

Several conference events are not on the conference preregistration forms. The Looking for Law in All the Right Places and the GPO Access Training preconferences are being handled by individual units; checks should be mailed to the addresses in the preliminary program. Similarly, preregistration for the TASL Private School Dinner is being handled separately as detailed in the preliminary program.

Are you a conference volunteer? We suspect the electronic volunteer form for TLA 2004 may have been misfiring. If you volunteered online before February 7, would you please take a few moments to resubmit your contact information and preferred times and areas? If you haven't volunteered yet, please consider the possibility. It's fun, and we really do need and appreciate your help.

Breaking in San Antonio

There’s so much to do in San Antonio for Spring Break that we couldn’t fit it all in the Preliminary Program. Other venues include the Southwest School of Art and Craft and the Witte Museum, the location for Wednesday’s Welcome Party. If sports are your passion, discounts for the Spurs and the Rampage are available. Tickets may go fast. Make sure to contact Anthony Bendele at the SBC Center to get your tickets.

• Go to http://www.txla.org/conference/san_antone.html for details on all venues. Coupons and other information will be available at the San Antonio Local Information Counter Located in the east registration area.

• Southwest School of Art and Craft (info@swschool.org or 210/271-1848) offers free admission and is featuring the exhibition, “Ceramic Wall Works.”

• The Witte Museum (witte@wittemuseum.org or 210/357-1900) is offering $1 off week-long admission if you mention the TLA conference or show your badge at the time of ticket purchase.

• For additional information on the Spurs/Rampage game, contact Anthony Bendele at abendele@sbccenter.net or 210/444-5735. TLA discounts are available through March 5^th or until tickets run out. The Rampage game is $10 per ticket, which includes the game, hotdog, soda, and ice cream.

Program Highlights

• General Session II, March 19 at 4:00 pm

Ralph Nader established the DC Library Renaissance Project in December 2002 to help raise awareness of the steady decline of the DC Library System through systematic budget cuts. In short time, a grass-roots campaign was organized, resulting in a record citizen turnout at the library's budget hearing. More than a million dollars in proposed cuts were prevented -- and, in fact, the library received an additional $500,000 appropriation from the city. Hear Nader's passion about the value of libraries in today's society and learn how he organized community, political, private and foundation support to improve the DC Library System to a world class standard.

• eScholarship, March 17 at 10:15 am

Roy Tennant, a pioneer in digital library development discusses faculty-led innovation in scholarly publishing at the California Digital Library and the implications of digital repositories for the publishing world.

• Libraries Building Communities, March 18 at 2:00 pm

Kathleen de la Peña McCook explores building on the public’s trust in libraries and bringing librarians to the community table.Learn strategies for strengthening your library’s value in building community in your campus, neighborhood, or city.

• THE USA PATRIOT Act and CIPA, Thursday, March 18 at 10:15 am

Review the USA PATRIOT Act and CIPA. The session covers the ramifications of these federal statutes and provides practical tips for dealing with CIPA filtering requirements.

• Cooperating with Mexican Consulates, March 19, at 10:00 am

Mexican consulates can be a source of support for public libraries by providing cultural programs, book collections, and adult basic education programs. Plazas Comunitarias (Communitarian Plaza) is one such program that consists of Spanish literacy classes, computer-training classes in Spanish, and Internet-based adult basic education courses offered by the Secretary of Public Education of Mexico. Another program offers collections of books that can be used to support such education efforts. Learn more about these resources.

• Anarchist in the Library, March 19 at 2:00 pm

Explore how peer-to-peer networks are transforming politics, culture, and the control of information. Learn how libraries are the main battlefield in the struggle between legislators, entertainment conglomerates, and corporations on one hand and educators, computer programmers, and consumers on the other.

• The Myth of the Neutral Profession, March 19 at 9:00 am

Librarians, teachers, and journalists are crucial actors in the education of citizens. The conventional view is that they should carry out their work form a position of political neutrality. Robert Jensen challenges this position in a stimulating discussion.

• President's Party, March 19 at 7:00 pm

Elaine Scott, author of Choices, is joining the roster of authors for the President’s Party on Friday evening. She has written two dozen books and will read from her latest work, Spanish Web: An Encounter with Pablo Picasso. Set in turn-of-the century Paris, Spanish Web is part of a series of historical fiction for young adults that brings famous artists to life in stories reflecting the artist’s individual masterpieces. John Graves, who is listed in the Preliminary Program, will be unable to attend.

• Reel Librarians, March 20 at 10:00 am

  Lights! Camera! Action! Reel librarians take Hollywood by storm. Sex, suspense, and shhh will keep you laughing and crying as all types of library staff are portrayed in this film compilation.

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  TLA Named Champion of Industry

  The Texas Library Association is to receive the Champions of Industry Award in the arts and humanities area.The award is presented by Pat Summerall Productions, which seeks to recognize organizations (corporate, non-profit, and educational entities) for performing well in a given industry and which have demonstrated leadership, integrity, and sound business practice.

  The official award announcement will be broadcast on CNN Headline News Network in May. As part of this process, Pat Summerall Productions, based in Dallas, will create two video products for TLA. The first is a two-minute announcement, featuring Pat Summerall, which will recognize the work and history of TLA. The second video product will be a five to six minute video that will be made available to the Association for non-broadcast purposes. The longer tape will discuss the purpose and history of TLA, detail the work of libraries, and describe the Association’s contributions.The longer video will be narrated by Troy Aikman.

  Filming of the video products will take place at Dallas Public Library in February. Additional information will be provided once a broadcast date is selected. The longer video will be accessible for viewing off of the TLA website.

  Nomination for the award is by invitation only. The Selection Committee noted the Association’s 100-year tradition of promoting education, award-winning quarterly journal, and membership value with affordable dues. A representative of Summerall Productions commented on the dedication, tenure, and passion apparent in the work of the Association, its members, and its staff. Congratulations to all TLA members and supporters!

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  TLA Elections

  If you joined TLA or renewed your membership for the year 2004 by February 1, you have the opportunity to vote for two members of the TLA Executive Board. Eligible members will receive the ballot and election brochure detailing information about each candidate.

  TLA Executive Board candidates are:

  President-Elect

  Kathy Hoffman
  Executive Director, Research Medical Library, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston)

  Gretchen McCord Hoffmann
  Attorney, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P (Austin)

  Representative-at-Large, School

  Sharon Carr
  Library Learning Resources Administrator, El Paso ISD

  Caroline Kienzle
  Director of Learning Resources, Irving ISD

  PROPOSITION I: To approve amending Article V – Nominations and Elections, Section 2 and Article XVI – Amendments to the Bylaws, Section 1 regarding electronic balloting. The text referring to "mail ballot" and "mail membership referendum" would be amended to read "mail or electronic ballot" and "mail or electronic membership referendum."

  See the election brochure for a full description of candidates and the Bylaws proposition. You may also access candidate information by clicking on “candidates” on the TLA homepage.

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  NEWS

  TBA Winner Announced

  Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy by Phil Bildner  (C. F. Payne, Illustrator;  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2002) has been chosen by the school children of Texas as the recipient of the 2004 Texas Bluebonnet Award. The book received 28,865 votes from students in grades 3-6. Mr. Bidner will be honored March 19 at the Texas Bluebonnet Award ceremony in San Antonio during TLA's annual conference.

  The Texas Bluebonnet Award is a children's choice award that encourages reading in Texas schools. 206, 515 children representing 1842 schools participated in this annual program by reading from a list of books (compiled by a committee of public and school librarians) and then voting for their favorite in January.

  Co-sponsors of the Bluebonnet program are the Children's Round Table and the Texas Association of School Librarians. The Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee recently released the 2004-2005 master reading list.

  TLA Administrative Updates

  If you want the good stuff…
  To renew your TLA membership or update your contact and mailing information, please go to the “Members Only Section” of the website. You will need your membership number, which is printed on the label of the Conference Preliminary Program, to set up your login sequence. You can also visit the Membership Options webpage to apply online or to print out a hard copy application for mailing.

  We’re Outta Here!
  The TLA office will be closed the entire week of conference, and no one will be available to take calls from March 15-19. Also, the TLA office will be closed Monday, March 22, and Tuesday, March 23, for much-cherished staff “crash-days” following conference. We’ll talk with you on March 24!

News on Grants

Texas to Receive Gates Grant

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced grants to 18 states to help public libraries continue to provide no-cost access to computers and the Internet for the public. The Staying Connected challenge grants, totaling $5.8 million, have been awarded to state library agencies in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. State library agencies will use the Staying Connected funds for technology training and support programs, broadband connectivity, and hardware and software upgrades in local libraries.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission received the largest grant of $907,520. The state has designed a sustainability strategy that includes replacement of current computers, expansion of regional library systems phone and email technical support and technical workshops, and intermediate level technical training workshops in 20 locations throughout the state. Texas secured $453,760 in matching funds from a combination of sources, including state funds, LSTA funds, the Tocker Foundation, and local library funds.

In addition to the Staying Connected grants, the foundation is working with Libraries for the Future to strengthen librarians’ capacities for community outreach and also supports WebJunction, a Web-based service that gives librarians and others an online platform to share knowledge and experience in providing technology to patrons. Additionally, the foundation supports libraries internationally, through grants and its annual Access to Learning Award.

Informing the World

The 2004 Inform the World Library Skills Exchange program announces two summer programs in South Africa. ITW Library Skills Exchange is a four-week hands-on volunteer program primarily for library science students and professionals. The goal of the program is to provide structured training and assistance to South African librarians, library committees, and teachers with little or no formal librarian training.

The program is called a "skills exchange" because African and international librarians bring their expertise together to create unique answers to the information needs of rural African communities. Sometimes the solutions are based on international standards, like using a recognized method for classifying books. Most often, each volunteer and African librarian contribute to creating a library as special as the community it serves.

For more information, please see http://worldlibraries.org/itw/itwoverview.shtml.

School Libraries Detection Systems Grants

In these days of limited budgets, updating school library materials available for students can be a challenge. School library media specialists can help reduce the loss of valuable library resources by applying now for the 2004 3M Salute to Schools program, which will provide $1.5 million worth of much-needed security products to 100 schools across the country. Winners will be selected by a group from the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association.

3M will provide up to two detection systems for the entrance/exit of the school's library media center and a supply of security strips for marking print materials. These tools carry an average value of about $15,000.

The program is open to middle and high schools in the United States. Individual donations will vary depending upon specific needs of the library media center, such as the size of a collection and the physical layout. To be considered for the donation, a school must meet eligibility requirements and be able to demonstrate a need for a detection system. Applications are available online at www.ala.org/aasl or www.3M.com/us/library. All applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2004. Recipients will be announced in early April.

Be a Hero

Young adult author T.A. Barron has developed a set of free educational materials for exploring the concept of heroes. Teachers and librarians across the country have worked with Barron to create a heroes study guide, curriculum, and bibliography.

The materials are part of Barron's non-profit young heroes project, which includes the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The prize honors young people who have shown leadership and courage in public service to people and our planet. To obtain the heroes materials or learn more about the prize, visit www.barronprize.org

Announcements

HPL Turns 100!

The Houston Public Library kicked off its centennial year with a celebration featuring Houston Mayor Bill White. Al Davis, chair of the Harris County Historical Commission and Sandra J. Pickett, chair of the Texas Library & Archives Commission, were also on hand on January 24 to dedicate an official Texas historical marker from the Texas Historical Commission commemorating the historical significance of the Julia Ideson Library Building. 

At the “One Hundred and One Big Party” held at the central library, Mayor White and Library Director Barbara Gubbin served up the library’s centennial cake for all to enjoy. Happy birthday, HPL!  

One of the highlights of HPL's centennial will be a staff reunion party on Sunday, May 2. Any past staff member is encouraged to join the celebration! To receive an invitation, please contact Shirley Clark, Marketing and Development Office, Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney, Houston, Texas 77002 or email her at shirley.clark@cityofhouston.net.

What's in Store at the TLA Store

Conference Art Raffle

Take a Chance on Art to benefit TLA's Texas Library Disaster Relief Fund

This year's masterpiece is by artist Will Hillenbrand.  For the price of a raffle ticket – only $5 – you might take home Hillenbrand's  whimsical illustration for Tom Birdseye's Look Out, Jack! The Giant Is Back! The original painting is 9.5 X 20 inches. Visit the Itsy Bitsy Gallery for a closer look and to buy raffle tickets if you can't make it to conference this year.

Names in the News

The Joe Barnhart Bee County Library Board has appointed Stephen Clegg as the new library director. Jorge Chavez will also be joining the library as the public services librarian.

Ruth Dahlstrom has retired from her position at ESC III and is now working at Victoria Public Library.

Sandra Hood of Palo Alto College will be a contestant on Jeopardy on April 1.

Melody Kelly is the 2004 recipient of the Bernadine Abbott Hoduski Founders Award from ALA’s Government Documents Round Table.

Joanna Nigrelli, a librarian with Austin Public Library's Wired for Youth program, received one of the New York Times 2003 Librarian of the Year Awards.

Beth Perry is leaving Palestine Public Library at the end of February to become director of the Burleson Public Library. Carol Herrington will be the acting director of Palestine Public.

Sandra Pickett of Liberty has been reappointed as Chairman of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for a six-year term. Two new commissioners have also been appointed. Martha Doty Freeman, an Austin-based historian and archivist, and Cruz Hernandez, a records manager for Tarrant County, began their terms on January 30, 2004. Kenneth Carr, a longtime library supporter and Commission member, concluded his tenure with the Commission at the end of last year.

Herman Totten, professor of library and information sciences at the University of North Texas, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve on the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.

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