What an AUSTIN-tatious Conference!

We don’t mean to gloat, but Austin promised a great conference, and it delivered! Over 7,500 librarians, library supporters, friends, vendors, and educators gathered for a truly historic event.  With such memorable speakers as Bertice Berry, Liz Carpenter, and Gloria Estefan, conference goers had a rich slate of programs to attend. Conference planners also created an impressive array of social events (the Bob Bullock Museum will never be the same!) and activities.

This year’s conference also hosted the first school administrators’ conference focusing on the value of school library programs.  This hugely successful event drew over 135 school administrators from across the state and offered the latest research—presented by the nation’s experts—on the impact of strong school libraries on student achievement. For additional information, visit the event's webpage.

The loudest of all conference events was the Rally for Texas Libraries, which was held on the south steps of the Texas Capitol. 
 

Complete with 100 drums, 2000 “Texans Love Libraries” fans, 150 placards, and several large banners, the 2,500 library supporters in attendance were so energized — chanting “get libraries out of the red” — that legislators actually came out from inside the Capitol to tell us that we could be heard underground and on the House floor. One librarian reported that a couple of well-dressed lobbyists joined the librarian festivities and said they could hear the rally from two blocks away. They came to see what the fuss was about and were astonished to learn that the members of the loud, spirited group were librarians and library supporters!

The Rally garnered over two hours of broadcast time in local and state TV and radio. TLA has made a videoclip of the rally available as streaming video from the TLA webpage and will make a longer video available during Annual Assembly and TLA district meetings.

Post Conference Announcements

The winner of a set of 18 underwater animal behavior and travel DVDs from SJB Productions at the TLA 2005 is Alma Carrasco of Rayburn Elementary in San Antonio.
 

Bedford Closes Library

As most of you have heard, the Bedford Public Library closed its doors last month. The Bedford City Council decided to close several city departments to address budget reductions voted on by local voters in a tax rollback. The vote in favor of the rollback (which won by only 10 votes) did not specify which city departments should be cut. That decision was left to city leaders.

The closure of the Bedford Public Library was the first in Texas since 1989.  A delegation of representatives of the American Library Association, the Texas Library Association, and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission visited with city officials to discuss the closure and offer support for a solution that would reopen the library immediately.

As people in the Bedford community learned more about the effects of the tax rollback, many expressed concern over the loss of the library.  At a recent city council meeting, dozens of people dropped checks into a donation basket to help raise funds to reopen city services. That funding, almost $17,000, was added to a $300,000 anonymous donation. Of that amount, about $130,000 is being used to operate the library on a limited basis.

The library closure in Bedford sent ripples of outrage across the state and, most notably, in adjacent communities.  Given the reduction in funds, Bedford will be unable to meet the maintenance of effort standard required for membership in the Texas Public Library System.  Loss of membership means that the library would be ineligible for state funding.

Additionally, as adjacent communities learned that the choice of Bedford had been to adopt the tax rollback at the expense of city services, officials in nearby towns passed resolutions prohibiting citizens of Bedford from using library services (i.e., checking out materials) paid by local citizens through local taxes.

Most reciprocal borrowing agreements among libraries are based on the fact that people — regardless of their home community — support a local library through local tax contributions, so each library user has a “home” library that can secure borrowing with any other participating library.  Without a “home” library and without a commitment from people to support a “home” library, area communities determined that their local residents should not pay for Bedford access.

Now that the library has reopened on a limited basis (due to private donations rather than local taxing commitments), the relationship of Bedford to its neighboring communities is yet to be determined. Additionally, the people of Bedford will still have to deal with the state budget consequences of closing the library. The library’s system accreditation is now on a probationary status, and the city had to return state funds for fiscal year 2005.
 

Legislative Update

The legislative session is coming to a close. While many items have yet to be resolved, here is a synopsis of where library issues stand.

BUDGET

The Conference Committee recommended to restore the initial 5% cut made to the the Texas State Library and Archives Commission base budget. Additionally, the Committee opted to increase funding for TexShare by $1.25 million per year. The Committee has not yet determined if any funds will be available for school online databases.

BILLS

• SB 483 by Senator Todd Staples (the companion of HB 661 by Rep. Dan Branch) proposes statutory permission for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to negotiate school database access. While both bills have passed their respective chambers, we are now waiting on SB 483 to pass the House. At the time of writing, SB 483 was not yet scheduled for a vote. Without imminent action, this measure will die. For more information, see Texline.

• HB 4  by Rep. Kent Grusendorf established an extensive list of educational technology goals for Texas schools. The measure included the expansion of the technology allotment and expanded the scope of instructional materials. The language of the bill was added to the Senate version of HB 2, the large education reform bill.

• HB 463 by Rep. Harold Dutton proposed language requiring the evaluation of school library services as part of the overall accountability of public schools. The bill did not receive a hearing.

•  HB 789 by Rep. Phil King / SB 332 by Sen. Troy Fraser / other telecommunications-related legislation
  At the time of publication, several different pieces of legislation were added as amendments to other bills. The Senate is also now working on passage of a revised HB 789 but must negotiate with the House.  These pieces of legislation contain provisions to continue telecommunications discounts for libraries. The final language is yet to be crafted.

• HB 2473 by Rep. Dianne Delisi regarding certain state publications maintained by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission was voted favorably from the Senate Government Organization Committee.

• HB 3412 by Rep. Roberto Alonzo required libraries to offer Internet access and allowed libraries to charge fees for such service. The bill did not receive a hearing.

• SB 1205 by Sen. Frank Madla establishes the authority for local governments to create multi-jurisdictional library districts and to impose local sales tax and/or ad valorem taxes to support the library district. The senate measure is set for floor action.

TLA NEWS

New Executive Board Members

• Jana Knezek, President-Elect

• Janet Key, Treasurer

• Yvonne Chandler, Representative-at-Large

• Chris Salerno, Representative-at-Large

Annual Assembly

Summer wouldn’t be complete without plans to attend TLA’s Annual Assembly in Austin, July 10-12. As usual, association officers and unit planners will gather to plan activities for the following year.  A difference this year is that units are required to have 2006 conference programs already shaped. Activities during Assembly can focus on logistical matters for conference and on overall unit goals throughout the year.

Also, we will offer a special end-of-session legislative review on Sunday evening, July 10. While we can’t yet give you a sense as to whether you should wear black or red (just kidding!), we will have a lively procession down to the bar afterwards.  

2nd Annual (Assembly) Fundraiser on the Hyatt Lawn

James Stewart and Steve Brown are offering a second helping of last year's popular and tasty event. Here's their description:

Annual Assembly is open to all TLA members, and everyone is invited to attend. To book your hotel room online at the special TLA rate, go to: http://austin.hyatt.com/groupbooking/gtxl. 

Awards, Scholarships, and Grants

2005 J. Frank Dobie Library Trust Awards

• Grand Saline Public Library

• Olton Public Library

• Bandera Public Library

• Karnes City Public Library

• Mae S. Bruce Library (Santa Fe)

• Dilley Public Library

2004 Recipients of the National Awards for Museum and Library Services

The Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) Medical Library, located in the UT Health Science Center’s RAHC Medical Education Division building in Harlingen, received a 2004 award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

SAPL Champions

The San Antonio Public Library Board of Trustees named five new local library champions: Vera Banner, a long-time member of the Friends of the San Antonio Public Library; Patricia Bjornson, selected in recognition of her work with the Friends of Brook Hollow Branch Library;  Guillermo Nicolas, recognized for his support of Cortez Branch Library; Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children, honored for several years of partnership with the Library; and Summer Reading Program partners The Boeing Company, San Antonio Water System, Verizon, and Promotional Management Group, being recognized for volunteer and financial assistance to the Summer Reading Program over the past two years.

Laura Bush Honored

The American Library Association honored Mrs. Laura Bush for her years of support to America's libraries and librarians at the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library in downtown Washington, D.C.   ALA Immediate Past President Carla Hayden presented Mrs. Bush with a citation and a gift of Kira-Kira and Kitten's First Full Moon, the 2005 winners of the Newbery and Caldecott medals, respectively.

Library News & Announcements

Monterrey Book Fair
Once again, the organizers of the Monterrey Book Fair are offering travel stipends to Texas librarians. The Book Fair will take place between October 8-16. For additional information and an application form, go to the Texas Mexico Relations Committee website.

National Study Confirms Benefit of School Libraries

The U.S. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recently released some of the findings from a longitudinal study of 10th graders. In its report, School Library Media Centers: Selected results from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002, NCES provides an overview of the current state of school library media centers that serve U.S. 10th-graders.  NCES studied a sample of 15,525 10th graders in 752 schools in the United States.  A study of 12th graders currently is underway.

 Reported findings show 76 % of U.S. school libraries had state certified librarians on staff in 2003, 96 % reported Internet access in the library, 88 % had reference databases, 56 % had academic subject databases, and 80 % of students reported school library reference materials to be useful or very useful. The full report is available online at http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005302.

TASLA Meeting
If you work as a school district library administrator or work as the lead librarian for a school district (you are at a school but also have the responsibilities of the library administrator), you are invited to the Texas Association of School Library Administrators (TASLA) meeting in Austin on June 1-3.  For more information contact a library administrator near you or Linda Garrett (linda_garrett120@sbcglobal.net).  The meeting is always filled with helpful information.

September Project
Once again, libraries across the county will participate in the September Project in 2005. Libraries and other public spaces across the world will organize events on the weekend of September 11 that center around the topics of democracy, citizenship, and patriotism.

Last year's efforts produced nearly 500 events in all 50 states and eight countries. September 11 is clearly a time when people want to come together in meaningful ways. September 11 falls on a Sunday this year, which brings some special issues and opportunities for this year’s events.

Please visit http://www.theseptemberproject.org to learn more about the project, to read about last year's events, and most importantly, to sign up your library and once again show the world that libraries are a vital resource in building stronger communities.

Día Finds a Home
The Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) is now the official national center for El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Day of the child/Day of the book). For libraries and librarians, every day is about kids and books, but the annual celebration on April 30 provides a nationally-recognized occasion to commemorate children, families, and reading.

Through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the ALSC will offer brochures (in both English and Spanish) for use in the libraries. They are available now, free of charge. Further information about the Día project is on the ALSC website.

Abilene to Receive Rare Materials
Hardin-Simmons University has received two valuable collections. Jacqueline Emerson-Barron, a 2004 graduate of HSU, presented material by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Faulkner to the University.  The collection will be housed in the Richardson Library.

The university has also been given a collection of religious studies and philosophy books. The materials were willed to the University by the late Dr. John Powell Clayton. The collection is a centerpiece of the new Duffy Theological Center in the Richardson Library. 

YALSA Website
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is pleased to announce the launch of its 2005 Teen Read Week web site! Visit it at www.ala.org/teenread to register, access annotated booklists, get program ideas, download a logo, and much more. This year's theme is "Get Real! @ your library," and the focus is on nonfiction and realistic fiction. Even though Teen Read Week isn't until Oct. 16-22, it's not too early to start planning your community's Teen Read Week celebration. To help you plan, YALSA has its Teen Read Week Manual marked down to just $10.00, and it can be purchased from the web site. Also, be sure to check out your summer ALA Graphics Catalog, which will be mailed out in early May for fabulous Teen Read Week products. This year let's work together to get more teens than ever to read for the fun of it!

One Million Signatures Needed for Campaign for Reader Privacy
The USA PATRIOT Act contains provisions affecting privacy in bookstores and libraries. The Act gives the FBI the power to apply for a secret court order compelling the surrender of records of the books purchased or borrowed.

Section 215 is scheduled to expire on December 21, 2005, but many in Congress want to make it permanent. The book community opposes re-authorizing Section 215 unless it includes safeguards that protect the privacy of our reading records.

The American Library Association has organized a national petition drive. To sign the petition today and spread the word for others to sign, go to: http://www.readerprivacy.org/petition.jsp.

Use the petition (PDF) at the site to collect signatures at your library or elsewhere, and return signed petitions to:

Office for Intellectual Freedom
American Library Association
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611

Names in the News

• The Hamon Fine Arts Library of the Central University Libraries at SMU has appointed three new librarians: Heather Barrett, Stacey McGee Beach, and Beverly Gibbons.

• Belinda Boon, a doctoral student at the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin, was awarded first prize at the Association of Library and Information Science Educators Conference in Boston for her poster on "The Female Experience in Small Community Public Libraries: Implications for CE.”

• Michelle Boule, University of Houston Libraries, has received an ALA/EBSCO conference sponsorship.

• Patrick Brennan was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Oklahoma Library Association in April 2005.

• Al Cage has retired as library director of the Stephen F. Austin State University.

• Marsha W. Harper was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by Abilene Christian University during commencement exercises December 10.

• Solina Marquis is now with the Allen Public Library.

• Miriam Rodriguez of Dallas Public Library and Loriene Roy of the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin were among those selected for the 2005 Library Journal Movers and Shakers List.

• Ramiro Salazar is the new director of San Antonio Public Library.

• Beatrice Takacs, long-time coordinator of the Big Country Library System, has retired.

• Lynn Westbrook has joined the faculty of the School of Information at The University of Texas.

Deaths

Tamako "Tommi" Urbanski of Round Rock, a longtime library volunteer and champion, died on April 11.

T • O • P

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