Volume 23, Number 2 · April 2004
Published by the Texas Library Association

              C   O   N   T   E   N   T   S

ASSOCIATION BRIEFS

New Executive Board Members

President-Elect: Gretchen McCord Hoffmann
Attorney, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (Austin)

Representative-at-Large, School: Caroline Kienzle
Director of Learning Resources, Irving ISD

Proposition I, which would allow TLA to conduct electronic balloting, passed with a 98% majority in favor.  

Annual Assembly

Austin, July 11-13 (Sun-Tue)
Hyatt at Town Lake

A preliminary schedule of meeting time slots and instructions for requesting a meeting and registration are posted at www.txla.org/groups/officers/AAinfo.html.

Officer Due Dates

  • Budgets due in the TLA Office by May 15.
  • Requests for Annual Assembly meeting time and room due by May 3.
  • Incoming officer information from units now past due.

 

 

Legislative Update

The Fourth Special Session of the 78th Texas Legislature will deal primarily with the funding structure for public schools and educational reform. Gov. Perry has said he does not know if the state’s public school crisis can be fixed in one, two, or three 30-day sessions but that lawmakers will stay as long as necessary.

Information about the House Select Committee as well as the Joint Select Committee on School Finance is available off of the state’s website (www.capitol.state.tx.us/psf/). Related documents and final reports are also accessible.

While the parameters of the special session may change, the state’s leadership has consistently maintained that the work of a special session will be to determine an alternate means of paying for public education. Over the last several months, elected leaders have made various proposals on how to change the current finance system. The Governor’s Office made public a plan to end the so-called “Robin Hood” finance system and provide tax relief to homeowners. Some of the elements in the plan include a limit on increases of tax appraisals; alternate revenue through “sin” taxes, such as on cigarettes; and voter-approved increases of local budgets. Other state leaders have discussed changing the structure for business taxes, including both business activity taxes and property taxes. There is currently no consensus on a plan.

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.  Educational groups that deal exclusively with K-12 matters are concerned about maintaining equity among all schools and improving the quality of education for all students. They clearly articulate the need for additional revenue for public education. Local government organizations, while supportive of the growing need to revamp the state’s public school system, are concerned about taxing changes that would limit the ability of local taxing jurisdictions to maintain public services. Businesses are concerned about potential increases in taxes (e.g., potential business activity taxes or changes to business property taxes) that would limit their ability to operate.

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.

The special session may be expanded to deal with other issues at the discretion of Governor Perry. While we do not expect issues of higher education to be addressed during the special session, the Legislature will continue its work of reviewing funding models for higher education as well.

Information on hearings and “calls to action” on specific legislative matters will be sent through Texline as the session progresses. If you are not yet registered to receive this free email publication, please send a message to gloriam@txla.org requesting to be subscribed.

Conference Wrap-Up and Awards

TLA 2004 Lost & Found

From a St. Patrick’s Day festival to a Carnivale at the library, TLA’s 2004 Annual Conference in San Antonio offered thousands of librarians and library supporters the chance to attend a wealth of programs and events. From March 17-20, the Texas library community gathered for the 91st annual conference. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader, nationally-acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, civil action commentator Siva Vaidhyanathan, library development expert Glen Holt, organizational guru Shelley Phipps, digital library expert Roy Tennant, Seattle Public Library’s Nancy Pearl, and librarian Kathleen de la Peña McCook were among headlining speakers.

The following awards and grants were announced at TLA Annual Conference in San Antonio, March 17-20. 

TLA Awards

  • Distinguished Service Award: Bonnie Juergens
  • Outstanding Service to Libraries: Representative Terry Keel
  • Benefactor Award: Belle and Richard Johnson (Houston)
  • Library Project(s) of the Year: Austin History Center, Austin Public Library for The Blue Bellies Are in Austin

Other Awards

  • Automation and Technology Round Table Conference Stipend: Gail Cunningham, technical services librarian, Jarrett Library, East Texas Baptist University

  • Dobie Awards: Crowley Public Library, Mineola Memorial Library, Kaufman County Library, Mason County M B Eckert Memorial Library, McMullen Memorial Library, Live Oak County Library, Pottsboro Area Library, and Real County Public Library

  • DEMCO Research Grant: Mary Durio (Krum), department head, University of North Texas Libraries, Rare Book & Texana Collections

  • Highsmith Library Award: Cedar Park Public Library for The Notorious TBC

  • Highsmith School Library Media Award: Kinkeade Early Childhood School for Families Reading Together

  • Hotho Literacy Award: Ingleside Public Library

  • The Laura Edwards Memorial Scholarship: Loren Zawodny, Frisco Public Library

  • Library Instruction Project of the Year: "Partnering for Progress: NLCL Business Information Program," North Lake Community Library
  • Love Award: Deborah Harper, Kountze Public Library
  • New Members Round Table/Quality Books Inc. Professional Development Grant: Susan T. Jennings, School Media Librarian for Beverly Hills Intermediate School, Pasadena ISD (Houston)
  • Outstanding Small Community Librarian of the Year: Joyce Trent, Leon Valley Public Library>
  • ProQuest/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award: Becky Pruett, Fort Bend ISD
  • Public Libraries Division conference stipends: Kathryn J. King, Bellville Public Library; Tera Kalka, Moore County Library Services; Loriann Marie Holt, Merkel Public Library; Toi Ann Fisher, Jeff Davis County Library
  • Siddie Joe Johnson Award: Susan King, George Memorial Library, Richmond
  • TASL Distinguished Library Service Award for School Administrators: Wilbert Morgan, principal, Wetmore Elementary School (NEISD), San Antonio
  • Woll Memorial Grant: Abernathy Public Library, Peggy Tooker - librarian; Cuero Public Library, Barbara Jacob - librarian
  • YARI Award: Carolyn Moses, Hightower High School, Sugar Land

Corporate Sponsors  

  • General Session I - Auto-Graphics, Inc.
  • General Session II - Brodart Company
  • Welcome Party - Ingram Library Services, Inc.
  • President’s Party - Baker & Taylor
  • Closing Luncheon - Gaylord Information Systems/ Gaylord Brothers
  • 17th Annual Hetherington Fun Run/Walk - ProQuest

  • Internet Room – Sirsi Corporation

  • Holders/Lanyards for Attendees - Compass Point Books
  • Texas Bluebonnet Award - Sagebrush Corporation
  • Diversity Fair - Demco, Inc.
  • Small Community Libraries Dessert Social - Hotho & Co
  • “Catching Authors: Bring Them Back Alive” - The Booksource, Inc.
  • “Laugh Your Way to Better Circulation” – Delaney Educational Enterprises, Inc.
  • “Libraries Building Communities” - Highsmith Inc.
  • “TexShare Card Tips” – ProQuest/SIRS Company
  • The Essential News – Tutor.com
  • Net Fair – netTrekker

  • Post Conference Survey - netTrekker

TLA’s TALL Texans  Class of 2004

The 11th TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute will be conducted at Canyon Oaks Ranch (formerly Harambe Oaks) in Fischer, Texas May 31 through June 4. Jack Siggins and Maureen Sullivan will be returning as facilitators, assisted by this year’s mentors – Gretchen McCord Hoffmann, TLA president-elect; Ivonne Jimenez, El Paso Public Library; Joan Leach, Fort Worth ISD; Irene Owens, School of Information, The University of Texas; Dana Rooks, TLA president; and Cathy Threadgill, Brazoria County Library System.

Cathy Park and Mary Jo Venetis, co-chairs of the 2004 Leadership Development TALL Texans Selection Subcommittee, have announced this year’s participants.

  • Maureen Ambrosino, First Colony Branch, Fort Bend County Library, Sugar Land
  • Walter Betts, Dallas ISD, Dallas
  • Sian Brannon, Denton Public Library, Denton
  • Krista Britton, Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School, Irving
  • Bill Buckner, Waco-McLennan County Library, Waco
  • Megan Cooper, Vista Ridge High School, Leander ISD, Cedar Park
  • Leanna Cowan, Alvarado Public Library, Alvarado
  • Dana Davis-Avants, Tannahill Intermediate School, White Settlement ISD, Fort Worth
  • Kathy Edgar, Ojeda Jr. High School, Del Valle ISD, Austin
  • Kathy Fair, Randolph C. Watson Library, Kilgore College, Kilgore
  • Clara Fowler, University of Houston Libraries, Houston
  • Tina Hager, Little Elm Community Library, Little Elm
  • Don Hamerly, McNeil High School, Round Rock ISD, Austin
  • Karen Harrell, Rummel Creek Elementary, Spring Branch ISD, Houston
  • Ellen Ko, William T. Cozby Public Library, Coppell
  • Christine McNew. Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Austin
  • Debye Nicholl, Westfall Branch, San Antonio Public Library, San Antonio
  • Michele Ostrow, The University of Texas General Libraries, Austin
  • Connie Pace, Bob Lewis Elementary School, Northside ISD, San Antonio
  • Sharon Swarner, North East ISD, San Antonio
  • Mike Van Campen, Robinson-Westchase Branch, Houston Public Library, Houston
  • Dana Watson, Oveta Culp Hobby Memorial Library, Central Texas College, Killeen
  • Adam Wright, North Texas Regional Library System, Forth Worth
  • Johnnie Wright, Thomas Jefferson High School, Dallas ISD, Dallas
Contributions to the June Kahler Berry Fund benefit the TALL Texans Leadership Development Leadership. To make a donation, you may contact Lynda Becker (lyndab@txla.org; 800/580-2852 x 21) at the TLA, or you may send a check payable to the Texas Library Association to Texas Library Association, 3355 Bee Cave Rd., Ste. 401, Austin, TX 78746. Please make a note that the check is to go toward the June Kahler Berry Fund.

TBA Growing Strong

April marks the beginning of the annual Texas Bluebonnet Award cycle for librarians all across Texas. The 2004-05 list (located at the Texas Bluebonnet website http://www.txla.org/groups/tba/index.html) has much to offer. There are beginning chapter books for young readers (such as Runaway Radish) and both novels (such as Lord of the Deep) and nonfiction (take a look at Phineas Gage) to challenge older children. Two of the books (The Pot that Juan Built and Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez) are available in Spanish (La vasija que Juan fabricó and Cosechando esperanza: la historia de Cesar Chavez). The two biographies included are A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, which introduces youngsters to a determined and spunky athlete, and George Washington’s Teeth, which allows readers plenty to chew on in this unusual glimpse of our first president.

The List also offers plenty of other options. Realistic fiction has a strong showing in Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Bario; Where I’d Like to Be; and Locomotion, while poetry tells of one girl’s loneliness (Danitra Brown Leaves Town); introduces two sisters coping with their father’s absence (Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart); and gives voice to a variety of non-human subjects, such as washing machines and crayons (Dirty Laundry Pile). There’s humor in The Gorillas of Gill Park and My Chimp Friday and history in Tippy Lemmey; Fame and Glory in Freedom Georgia; and Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog’s Tale. And, for really cool summer reading, suggest a vicarious trip to the land of ice and snow with Togo or Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights.

Register now for the 2004-05 year to ensure that the children you serve can participate fully in the Bluebonnet program. You can access registration information at the Bluebonnet website by clicking on “Forms” on the left-hand navigational bar. A form for ordering supplies—everything from certificates to patches—is found at the same location. A fee for shipping and handling will be added on all future supplies orders.

The TBA website is undergoing some changes. At present, the screen for ordering supplies is slow to appear. In the near future, that screen (and the one for registration) will be interactive. If you have any problems with access, please contact Carolyn Reynolds (carolynr@txla.org). And please contact Betty Carter (bcarter787@comcast.net) with comments about the books on the 2004-05 list, any questions about the program, your success stories, or your ideas to help Bluebonnet continue to grow.

Día Tool Kit

The El día de los niños/El día de los libros Task Force is proud to announce the completion of a tool kit designed to increase the awareness and participation of the El día de los niños/El día de los libros celebration. The tool kit is a "how to" manual for librarians/teachers, both experienced and new to their respective fields, wanting to prepare such a celebration. Some librarians/teachers may use the ideas to supplement general El día de los niños celebrations in their communities. Others will use the programming suggestions for their own El día de los niños/El día de los libros celebrations focusing exclusively on children and their literacy.

The Tool Kit, which can be accessed in its entirety at www.texasdia.org/toolkit.html, contains the following sections:

Día minigrant recipients this year were:Aldine ISD, School Libraries; Allen Public Library; Arlington Public Library, Arlington ISD, Roquemore Elementary; Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD, Middle School Library; Cedar Hill, Zula Bryant Wylie Library; Corpus Christi Public Libraries; Dallas ISD; Denton Public Library System; Denton ISD, Billy Ryan High School; East Central ISD; Grapevine-Colleyville ISD; Houston, Elizabeth Ring Branch Library; Irving Public Library; Irving ISD; LaMarque Public Library; Lazbuddie ISD; Melissa Public Library; Little Elm Community Library; Presidio Library; Seguin ISD, Sequin High School; Spring Branch ISD; Weslaco Public Library

Information about the Día projects at all these libraries is available at www.texasdia.org/2004_grants.htm.

Library Awards & Grants

Friends Award Submission Sought

Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) and Baker & Taylor have once again partnered with the American Library Association (ALA) to honor the Friends group with the most creative use of ALA's @ your library® campaign logo and/or slogan. Now in its second year, the $2,000 award is open to Friends groups of all sizes and types who are current FOLUSA members.

Friends groups of all sizes and types, including school, academic, and public library Friends groups, are encouraged to apply. Award information is available online at www.folusa.org, including the official entry form, guidelines, and details. Please call the FOLUSA office at (800) 936-5872 to verify eligibility. Mail entries, postmarked no later than May 1, 2004.

Do-It-Yourself READ

The American Library Association (ALA) is looking for the best do-it-yourself READ poster created with the new READ CD from ALA Graphics. Participants have a chance to win a $100 ALA Graphics gift certificate and to have their READ Poster featured in the September issue of American Libraries. Entries may feature adults, children, students, families, local celebrities or staff. Entries must be postmarked by July 31, 2004 to be eligible for consideration.

For additional READ Poster Contest information, please contact Trish Cleary, ALA Graphics Marketing Manager, tcleary@ala.org, or 312/280-2426.

School Library Grants

The U.S. Department of Education is now accepting applications for Improving Literacy through School Library grants. Submission deadline is May 20, 2004. For eligibility information and applications, go to www.ed.gov/programs/lsl/applicant.html.

Singer Awards

After an open nationwide competition, The Library of America, the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have selected 60 public and academic libraries in 32 states -- from Alaska to Florida -- to receive $450 grants to develop programs about Isaac Bashevis Singer that will be free and open to the public.

Selected libraries will also receive the three-volume hardcover authoritative collection "Isaac Bashevis Singer: Collected Stories," to be published by The Library of America in July 2004. Participating Texas libraries include Beldon Library (San Antonio), El Paso Public Library, and Houston Public Library.

College for Texans Campaign

Several Texas public libraries and literacy organizations have been awarded $500 minigrants to promote College for Texans. Recipients include the West Orange-Stark High School Library Club (Cynthia Russell), Mount Pleasant Public Library (Jeanette McCoy), Crowley Public Library (Gwen Hopper), Olton Area Library (Linda Roper), Literacy Council of Tyler (Nancy Crawford), and Literacy Volunteers of Laredo (Gabriela Rodriguez). Susan Chandler, formerly with the Fort Bend County Library, worked with the literacy organizations to help them obtain the grants.

 Library News & Events

SMU Receives Marcus Collection

The legendary Stanley Marcus, arbiter of fashion and good taste, consorted with politicians, celebrities, and collectors from around the world. Linda Marcus, widow of the late fashion retailer and civic leader, donated his personal library of 10,000 books to SMU’s DeGolyer Library last summer.

Stanley Marcus’s wide-ranging curiosity is reflected in his collection of books on art, art history, literature, the book arts, business history, and fashion. The gift of books that filled three libraries in the Marcus home is the most significant bibliographical gift made to the DeGolyer Library since its founding in 1974.

Online for Kids

The Association for Library Service to Children's (ALSC) "Great Web Sites for Kids" website (www.ala.org/greatsites) has been selected for inclusion on EDSITEment (http://edsitement.neh.gov), a website hosted by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) that serves as a gateway to exemplary humanities-related resources on the Internet for students, parents, and teachers.

A peer review panel and a Blue Ribbon panel made up of educators, education administrators, and higher education institutions reviewed "Great Web Sites for Kids" and determined that the site met the project's criteria for intellectual quality, content, design and classroom impact.

Best of the Best

Howard Payne University and the Heart of Texas Literature Center are presenting an exhibit of the best books of 2003 for children and young adults, April 30- May 1, 2004 at the Mabee University Center at Howard Payne University (Brownwood). Admission is free. Attendees will receive a bibliography of the books displayed. There will be door prize drawings every hour. For more information, contact Patsy Weeks at pweeks@hputx.edu or 325/649-8606.

West Texas Book & Author Festival

The 4th annual West Texas Book & Author Festival will take place September 23-25, 2004 in Abilene, Texas. Sandra Brown will be the A. C. Greene Award honoree and keynote speaker. Other speakers include former Dallas Cowboy Charlie Waters and Stephen Harrigan, author of Gates of the Alamo. For more information, contact Janis Test at janis.test@abilenetx.com. The event is sponsored by Friends of the Abilene Public Library to benefit the Abilene Public Library. 

Libraries and Patriot Day

September 11 has been designated Patriot Day. A group of library directors, university officials, and representative of philanthropic organizations have developed The September Project as a means of creating dialog about civic concerns. Using public libraries as a forum for connecting citizens, the Project’s goal is to create multiple spaces on Patriot Day where citizens can participate collectively and think creatively about our country, government, community and to encourage and support the well-informed voice of the American citizenry. Libraries big and small will host and facilitate talks and roundtables, workshops, public deliberations, and artistic installations and performances in communities across the country.

Public involvement is central, and all organizations interested in achieving the project’s goal are invited to participate. If you would like to learn more about The September Project, you may visit www.theseptemberproject.org.

National Library Week

Despite budget cuts across the country, communities are celebrating National Library Week as public library visits near 1.2 billion. While library budget cuts have hurt services in 40 states, communities throughout the country are holding their annual celebration of National Library Week, April 18-24. This comes at a time when library visits have reached an all-time high.

In the past decade, visits have more than doubled to almost 1.2 billion annually, and a record-setting 1.79 billion items were borrowed from libraries in one year alone, according to the most recent federal statistics. In addition, a recent public opinion poll found that two-thirds of all Americans believe having access to a community library is very valuable. "The Public Library: A National Survey" was conducted by Marist College Institute for Public Opinion late last year; you can read about it at http://midhudson.org/funding/advocacy/Marist_Poll_2003.ppt.

Following is a brief list of some of the important activities taking place during National Library Week (April 18-24) and the entire month of April:

 

  • Register to Vote @ your library(r) is an online voter registration effort. As the one institution whose sole function is to provide for the free exchange of information and ideas, libraries offer a civic space where the public can find voting information, speak freely, share similar interests and concerns, and pursue what they believe is in their interest. For more information, go to www.yourvotematters.org/ala.
  • National Library Workers Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 20. Almost 395,000 people work in libraries across the country, providing a range of services from cataloging and shelving materials to organizing programs and events to updating the library's website. For more information, go to www.ala-apa.org/nlwd/index.htm.
  • Librarians are at the forefront of the battle to amend the USA PATRIOT Act and are gathering a million signatures in support of legislation to amend Section 215, which undermines historical protections for reader privacy in libraries. ALA is joining with the American Booksellers Association and the PEN American Center to gather signatures in bookstores, libraries, and online (www.readerprivacy.org).
  • Many schools will observe School Library Media Month throughout April with open houses and other events that highlight the contributions of school libraries and librarians. Research shows that the highest achieving students attend schools with well-stocked and staffed school library media centers. http://www.ala.org/aaslTemplate.cfm?Section=studentachieve

More on Voting Registration

The Your Vote Matters site was created and customized by Working Assets for participating non-partisan, non-profit organizations.  When citizens register to vote through www.yourvotematters.org/ala, they help raise funds for the ALA thanks to a generous grant from Working Assets. All donated funds will be used to support ALA's library advocacy efforts nationwide.

ALA will award a grant of $1,000 to the library that registers the largest number of voters through the site and grants of $500 to the first five libraries that register 500 individuals. In addition to helping to support advocacy at ALA, Working Assets will underwrite the costs of producing tip sheets, bookmarks, and buttons for library workers to use in promoting voter registration in their communities. These materials can be requested online at www.ala.org/requestmaterials by any library interested in participating in this voter registration initiative and grant contest. Materials will be mailed to libraries beginning in April and until early September.

For more information about Register to Vote @ your library, please contact Lainie Castle at 800/545-2433, extension 5050. Contact Your Vote Matters at 877/205-VOTE (8683) with technical or voter registration questions. For more information about Working Assets, visit www.workingassets.com.

Names in the News

  • Hyeyoon Cho will be the new music cataloger at Central University Libraries, Southern Methodist University.

  • Tina Hager has held the position of library director of the Little Elm Community Library since August 2003.

  • Larry Hardesty, college librarian at Austin College (Sherman) has accepted the position of dean of the library at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

  • Shoko Kreutzfeld is now working at Southern Methodist University's Central University Libraries as the electronic resources cataloger.

  • Dennis Moser has been named the new digital content manager at Southern Methodist University.

  • Alisa Rata recently began her position as music, theatre, and dance librarian at Southern Methodist University's Hamon Arts Library.

  • Gerald Saxon has been selected to serve as the new Dean of Libraries at the University of Texas at Arlington. He will take over for Tom Wilding, who retires at the end of July.

Deaths

Don Galloway, long time TLA exhibitor, passed away in January.

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