Volume 25, No. 2 - JUNE 2006
 Published by the Texas Library Association
Annual Assembly


Want to take a leisurely cruise down (and up) the lazy river? Interested in a a TLA Presidents Look-alike Contest?
Need some homemade beer or sangria?

Well then, you certainly don’t want to miss this year’s Annual Assembly, which will take place July 6-9 (Thursday through Sunday) at the Hyatt Town Lake in Austin. Assembly begins on a weekday this year rather than on a weekend. The Friday and Saturday schedules allow free time in the evenings and an opportunity to come on board for a Saturday night chartered cruise on Town Lake.

On Saturday, the last round of unit meetings will end at 5:30, allowing time for dinner before Council I at 7 pm. The TLA “Show Boat” will depart at 8 pm from the Hyatt dock.  Tickets for the boat ride must be purchased through preregistration.

If you plan to set sail with your merry library colleagues, consider packing a costume in your sea chest for an impersonate your favorite TLA president contest.  Anyone is fair game! The winner will be selected through some completely objective process (TBD) and a fabulous prize will be given (also TBD).

So, whether you want to don black and dust off those cowboy boots to do a Todaro; track down an old bow tie, strap on suspenders, and glue on a beard for a distinctly Stewartian look; or devise some other clever look-alike outfit, bring it on!

Steve Brown and James Stewart will be doling out homemade beer and sangria, so everyone’s costume is bound to look great by the end of the evening! Tickets will be sold onsite, but attendance is limited. So, please preregister for the cruise to ensure you are among the 80 lucky voyagers!

The assembly luncheon on Saturday will feature a guest legislator to discuss current political news.

A Few Tips for Assembly

  • You may now register for Assembly online at http://www.txla.org/conference/assembly/AAinfo.html.

  • If you have a meal at the Hyatt’s restaurant, you can get your parking validated.

  • The Hyatt will have a computer in the lobby available so that attendees can print out boarding passes on the day of their flights.

  • If you are an officer in a subcommittee or special group, we encourage you to attend Assembly. All members are welcome, and we want to facilitate your planning process for the year. You will find full Assembly information at http://www.txla.org/conference/assembly/AAinfo.html.
     

Texas Professional Development / Continuing Education:
The Next Three Years
FRIDAY, 5:30-6:30 pm

Envisioning 21st century Texas professional development and continuing education is a huge task. The needs are great, the players are many, and there can't be too many opportunities for training and development experts and stakeholders to come together to discuss needs, delivery mechanisms, the "now and later" issues, and "who's on first." Join us for our (now ongoing) TLA Assembly dessert social discussion, reinvented in 2006 as an hors d'oeuvres discussion before you go to dinner and dancing. Spend an hour with us planning for the future.

After the Friday afternoon meetings end at 5:30 pm, a round table discussion on statewide continuing education issues will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 (more details at right).  The session will be facilitated by Julie Todaro and Ted Wanner, TLA’s continuing education specialist.

 


 Assembly

Legislative Update

 Senior Leadership
Institute

Endowment
for Excellence

Conferences
Past and Present

TLA Award
Announcements

Grants & Awards

Library/Literacy Events

ALA News

Names in the News

Report on Student Perceptions: College Students' Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources

Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) has released a new companion piece to their original December 2005 Perceptions report.

The report covers data on library use, awareness and use of library electronic resources, Internet search engines, the library and the librarian, free vs. for-fee information and
the "Library" brand from the point-of-view of college students and teens.

Get more information and download the report.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Special Session Wrap-Up

The Third Special Session of the 79th State Legislature adjourned sine die May 15. The Legislature passed several tax measures including bills to lower school property taxes and generate state funds through a revised business tax as well as other measures. The Legislature also passed a pay increase of $2000 for teachers, librarians, nurses, and counselors and a stipulation that schools must begin in the last week in August.

The 80th Regular Session convenes on January 9, 2007.

 Updates to Telecommunications Discounts

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced a review of state required telecommunications discounts for libraries, schools, and institutions of higher education. These discounts (originally a part of the broad legislation that created state support mechanisms for distance education and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund back in 1995) were continued through 2012 last summer.

 The Public Utility Commission of Texas (“Commission”) is required by Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) Section 58.032 to issue a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant Governor by November 15, 2006 regarding a new funding mechanism for private network services and discounts provided to currently eligible entities.

TLA filed a response on behalf of the library community. The PUC received responses from several stakeholder groups and a workshop on the discount issue has been scheduled for June 28.  Parties are encouraged to track developments in this proceeding at the Project’s website.  All documents filed in this proceeding, including TLA’s response, may be obtained, free of charge, at the Commission’s document retrieval website.  [In the Control Number field, type in 31925, then click the Search Now button to retrieve all documents.]

65% Rule

The Texas Education Agency conducted a hearing on May 5 to solicit testimony and input from the public on proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 109, Budgeting, Accounting, and Auditing, Subchapter AA, Commissioner's Rules Concerning Financial Accountability Rating System which includes the 65% rule proposal. A part of the proposed rule would require districts to direct a minimum of 65% of expenditures to direction instructional activities. The TEA's draft rule includes Function Code 12 expenses (which covers librarians as eligible).

Several representatives from TLA attended the hearing and presented testimony. Several counselors also testified on the need to include counselors as eligible for the instructional cost definition. While educators were clearly supportive of the inclusion of librarians in the draft rule, most remain convinced that the 65% rule in general should be withdrawn.

Interestingly, discussion on the House floor just prior to the end of the session indicated some legislators’ interest in nullifying the effects of any rule crafted to require districts to direct a certain percentage of expenditures on instructional costs.  As of the time of printing, no new action has been taken on the 65% rule.

TSLAC Sunset

The Sunset Advisory Commission’s hearing on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission will take place on Nov. 14 and 15. The Sunset Commission staff is now working on its report to the Sunset Advisory Committee.

You'll find background information about the process and access to  TLA’s response to Sunset Commission questions (click on the first link) on the Government Affairs site.

HOLD THE DATE: TLA Legislative Day 2007
February 5 and 6 at the Hyatt on Town Lake in Austin.

New Senior Leadership Institute

The Texas Library Association is currently working to develop a new type of leadership training program. The purpose of this program is to identify and prepare librarians to lead the major libraries of Texas into the future. Training geared specifically for the next generation of library directors is one of the most important efforts the library community can undertake to ensure that libraries can meet the complex and growing needs of an informed Texas citizenry.  As Chair Dana Rooks stated, “The talents, abilities, and skills of the next generation of library directors will influence funding, public policy, and our profession for all libraries.”

The intended audience is the pool of current senior library administrators who aspire to lead medium to large public, academic, ISD, or special libraries or library organizations. These individuals would be experienced and successful managers and administrators who seek to enhance their awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to assume roles as deans and directors in major library systems of all types.

Participants will address roles unique to deans/directors which they have not experienced in their previous positions.  They will view these responsibilities within the broader framework of their organization, their community, the state, the nation and the profession. 

Networking within this framework will be an important outcome of the Institute.  Participants will develop professional relationships with their future colleagues from all types of libraries across the state.  The inclusion of participants from all types of libraries is a strong aspect of the Institute. Relationships developed during the Institute will foster future collaborations and partnerships among all types of libraries, regionally and statewide, for the enhancement of all libraries within the State.

The Senior Leadership Institute will serve as a model for similar efforts throughout the nation, as we all seek to further enhance and strengthen the ability of libraries everywhere to serve our constituencies, through strong effective leadership. The development and sponsorship of a Senior Leadership Institute within TLA can be a foundation upon which to build a comprehensive and sustained effort to ensure a strong future for our libraries.

Senior Leadership Institute Task Force Members
  • Dana Rooks, chair, dean of libraries, University of Houston
  • Carol Brey-Casiano, director, El Paso Public Library
  • Sharon Carr, Library Learning Resources coordinator, El Paso ISD
  • Diane Graves, university librarian, Trinity University
  • Joan Heath, library director, Texas State University
  • James Hundemer, Manager, HISD Library Services
  • Robert Martin, professor, Texas Woman’s University
  • Leslie Anne Navarro, library director, Rio Grande Campus, Austin Community College
  • Eva Poole, director of libraries, Denton Public Library
  • Jana Knezek, president, Texas Library Association
  • Pat Smith, executive director, Texas Library Association
  • Ted Wanner, continuing education specialist, Texas Library Association

Patricia H. Smith Endowment for Excellence

The Texas Library Association is proud to announce the establishment of the Patricia Smith Endowment for Excellence. Income from the endowment may be used by the Executive Director of TLA for any purpose that is deemed to enhance and enrich the Texas Library Association, its members, and its activities.

Through the generosity of over 65 Charter Donors (as of May 1), each of whom pledged $1000, this endowment will stand as a tribute to the impact of the Texas Library Association on the libraries, library users, and librarians of Texas. The endowment is also a testament to TLA Executive Director Patricia Smith, whose unwavering commitment to libraries and passion for what they represent sets the standard for excellence and leadership for Texas librarianship.

You may become a Charter Donor (which includes being a signatory to the establishing document) by submitting your pledge by Annual Assembly to Catherine Lee at the Texas Library Association, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Ste. 401, Austin, TX 78746.  Use the pledge form for your total commitment of $1000, to be paid in full (on whatever schedule you wish) by Annual Conference 2007. All TLA members and other Texas library supporters are very welcome to contribute at any level and at any time by contacting Catherine Lee (catherinel@txla.org.) 

TLA Conferences
Past and Present

“Igniting Passion” — the theme of the 2006 TLA Annual Conference held in Houston, April 25-28 — certainly did just that! Here’s an example of comments that prove the point.

If she’ll take me, I’ll run away with her!

A certain TLA Executive Board member announcing his intent to form a permanent attachment to General Session I speaker Julie Andrews.

Was that an Irish troop of folk-dancing maniacs? What where those pink headdresses anyway? Is that Simon, Paula, and Randy up there?

Questions heard at the Texas State Book Cart Drill Team Competition

That is the UGLIEST Hawaiian shirt I’ve ever seen! (A passion shared by many.)

Comments about the winning (i.e., ugliest) shirt at the President’s beach-themed Party.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all you do. Thank you!

Second General Session speaker Marlee Matlin, expressing her appreciation for the librarians of Texas.

You all are huge!

A comment from a rather impressed school administrator attending the hugely successful 2006 School Administrators Conference. (He referred to the size of the conference, of course.)

Well, now that the handouts have been posted and the CPE hours have been calculated, you may ask: What is left of the 2006 annual conference? Your fond memories, of course, and all that knowledge you gained from four days of content-rich continuing education programs and networking opportunities. 
 

  

2 0 0 7   H O U S I N G
registration for the TLA Conference
in San Antonio is now open.

To make your reservation, go to www.txla.org/conference/conf.html and click on the “2007 Housing Registration” link in the upper right.

 


LOST & FOUND

If you lost one of these items, please contact the TLA office at 800/580-2852 and ask for Elise Wright. Please be prepared to provide a description of the item.

  • 1 Kodak instant camera found by a driver on the shuttle bus on 4-28
  • 3 books that were left in the PermaBound booth on 4-28
  • 1 pin with the words “Fide et Opera” found after General Assembly on 4-27
  • 1 watch found at President’s Party on 4-26
  • 1 silver bracelet found after General Assembly on 4-27
  • 1 pair of reading glasses found on 4-24
  • 1 pair of eye glasses found in the exhibit hall on 4-28
  • 1 computer port found at registration on 4-27
  • 1 pair of sunshades (sunglasses) found at registration desk on 4-25
  • 1 pair of reading glasses found on 4-26
  • 1 blue hood found at the president’s party on 4-26
  • 1 pair of brown sunglasses found at exhibitor registration on 4-29
  • 1 beaded bracelet with cross found at the SAVE booth on 4-29
  • 1 brown full size leather folder found in the exhibit hall on 4-27
  • 1 pair of black glasses on 4-27
  • 1 earring on 4-27
  • 1 Fuji Film camera case found on 4-27
  • 4 books w/receipt for the books (from Random House) found at the bag check on 4-27

 

  TLA AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS

The 2006 TLA awards were presented in April
 at Annual Conference in Houston.

Accepting the Benefactor Award for Milton Lee of CPS Energy were Ken Kurburski and Alicia Falcon.

Additional information & photos

  • Two Lifetime Achievement Awards were given this year in recognition of  distinguished service to Texas librarianship  over a number of years. The award also acknowledges creative leadership and service to TLA. The recipients were JERILYNN WILLIAMS, Montgomery County Memorial Library System director, and HERMAN TOTTEN, Dean of UNT’s School of Library and Information Sciences and a TLA past president.
  • The 2005 Texas Librarian of the Year Award was presented to BETH WHEELER FOX, director of Travis County's Westbank Community Library.
  • ELIZABETH YOUNG, founder and active lifetime member of Bay City’s Friends of the Library, received the 2006 Outstanding Service to Libraries Award.
  • The 2006 recipient of the Wayne Williams Library Project of the Year (previously known simply as the Library Project of the Year) is Austin Public Library’s Youth Services program Second Chance Books: Bringing Literature to Incarcerated Kids.
  • Benefactor Awards were presented to George P. Mitchell (GPM, Inc.) and the South Montgomery County Friends of the Library; to the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation (San Antonio); and to Milton Lee of CPS Energy (San Antonio).

Other Awards presented at TLA 2006:

  • Darlene Blair, Tomball ISD, received the TASL Distinguished Library Service Award for School Administrators.
  • Highsmith Awards were presented to Midway ISD for Midway Reads and Hurst Public Library for Hurst Overland Reader’s Railroad. In 2003, the Midway ISD librarians established Midway Reads as a biennial event for the whole community – 80% of families purchased the selected books to participate. After receiving a donation of a model railroad, the Hurst Public Library created a successful marketing program on the train theme that resulted in over 46,000 patrons viewing the train installation and a large increase in children library users.
  • Mary Ellen Coleman, Dimmit County PL, was named Small Community Librarian of the Year and also received the Christina Woll Award.
  • The recipient of the 2006 Love Award was the Singletary Memorial Library.
  • Karen Kessel (Irving ISD) received the Siddie Joe Johnson Award at the TBA Luncheon.
  • The TLA NMRT Quality Books Professional Development Grant was presented to Cindy Moreno, Children's Librarian at the Maverick Branch Library of the San Antonio Public Library System.
  • The CULD Academic Scholarship went to Timothy O. Baldwin, a TLA member currently is employed at Mountain View College as a librarian and enrolled at UNT in the MLS program.
  • Automation and Technology Round Table Stipends were awarded to Cary Herzig from the Colony Public Library and Adam Holland from the Abilene Public Library.
  • The NMRT Quality Books Professional Development Grant recipient is Cindy Moreno, children’s librarian at the Maverick Branch Library of the San Antonio Public Library System.
  • NMRT’s Outstanding New Librarian is Lisa Ancelet from Texas State University.
  • The Intellectual Freedom Committee’s annual ProQuest/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award goes to Lucy Collins Nazro, head of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin.
  • The Texas-Mexico Relations Committee offered a travel stipend to Yolanda Medina to attend courses in Patzcuaro in Michoacán, Mexico in Adult Basic Education for Spanish speakers.
  • This year’s Young Adult Reading Incentive (YARI) Award was received by co-winners April Aultman Becker and Michelle Buckley from Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas.
  • The TLA Black Caucus presented a scholarship to Kimberly Gay, an MLS student at Texas Woman’s University.
  • This year’s Escue Stipend was awarded to Darla Casella of Abilene Public Library.
  • Michael Barker was the recipient of a Public Libraries Division conference stipend.

Tocker Stipend Recipients

Corbert Darby, Alpine PL

Jackie Icenhower, Atlanta PL

Norma Herrera, Dilley PL

Maria Antonio Rios, Duval County/San Diego PL

Delilah Wilson, Elgin PL

Melissa Jeffrey, Haslet PL

Theresa Strickler, Jennie Trent Dew Library

Rhonda Bass, Maffett Memorial Library

Gail Woodward, Marlin PL

 

  

Debra Bashaw, McMullen Memorial Library

Sharon Long, Newton County PL

Vikijane Bear, Palacios Library

Maria Palomo, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD

Diana McCullough, Ranger City Library

Sheri Lewis, Van Alstyne PL

Leticia Rodriguez, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo

 

GRANTS & AWARDS


Beyond Words - Dollar General School Library Relief Fund

Dollar General, in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA), the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), and the National Education Association (NEA), is sponsoring a school library disaster relief fund for public school libraries in the states served by Dollar General. The fund will provide grants to public schools whose school library program has been affected by a disaster. Grants are to replace or supplement books, media, and library equipment in the school library setting.

Grants will be awarded to public school libraries that have incurred substantial damage or hardship due to a natural disaster (tornado, earthquake, hurricane, flood, avalanche, mudslide), fire, or an act recognized by the federal government as terrorism. The goal is to provide funding for books, media, and library equipment that support learning in a school library environment. The impact can be through direct loss or through an increase in enrollment due to displaced/evacuee students. Initially, priority will be given to school libraries impacted by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Complete details and application are online.

Laura Bush Foundation Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative

The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries recognizes the critical and special needs of many schools in the areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma along the Gulf Coast of the US this past year. A special fund has been established to refurbish and re-establish the libraries for schools in the areas of these natural disasters. The goal of the fund is to help school libraries become fully functional and to offer the needed print resources to the students of the schools that were destroyed or severely damaged.

A questionnaire/application for funds is available through www.laurabushfoundation.org. Applicant schools should provide the required information, as outlined in the questionnaire, in a 3-5 page narrative.

 ALA Awards

The American Association of School Librarians has announced the 2006 recipients of its
annual awards. Several Texans have been recognized and will receive their awards during the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.
  • Distinguished School Administrator Award: Kay McBride, Pasadena Independent School District
  • Secondary Category: Sara Reibman, Biblioteca Las Americas, Mercedes
  • Intellectual Freedom Award: Catherine Crain, Thompson Intermediate School, Houston
  • National School Library Media Program of the Year Award, Single School Category: Biblioteca Las Americas, Mercedes, Texas

HPL Recognized

Houston Public Library’s John P. McGovern-Stella Link Branch was recently honored with the Houston Business Journal’s Landmark Award for Best Community Impact. The branch was recognized for its overall appeal to the community, construction, people-friendly environment, and advanced technology. This project was a collaborative effort between the Stella Link Redevelopment Association (SLRA) and the Houston Public Library.

Library and Literacy Events

Read to Me!

More than 900 children gathered on the steps of the Tom Green County Courthouse on April 11, after the 15th Annual Read to Me! March around the Courthouse. Led by Mayor J.W. Lown, the kindergarten, first, and second graders from city schools carried signs and chanted, READ TO ME!

Angelo Catholic School fifth and sixth graders, Central High School Future Educators, and San Angelo Independent School District librarians read to small groups on the lawn, following the march.  In the past 14 years, over 10,000 children have participated in this event.

West Texas Book and Music Festival

The sixth annual West Texas Book and Music Festival will be a week-long event in Abilene, culminating in a big day of festivities on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Abilene Civic Center.

Fifteen Texas authors will speak or participate in panel discussions that day. Featured authors include Elmer Kelton, Jane Roberts Wood, Donna Ingham, Carlton Stowers, Lori Wilde, Scott Zesch, Dixie Cash, Christopher Oglesby, Karen Wright, and Wayne Edwards. Most sessions are free.

The festival is presented by the Friends of the Abilene Public Library and the Abilene Reporter-News, and it has raised more than $100,000 for library programs in its first five years. More than 1,000 readers and writers are expected to attend the various sessions throughout festival week. For more information, see the festival website.  Click on the Boots & Books logo.

 Mayborn Conference

Author Gay Talese, considered one of the founders of "new journalism," will deliver the keynote speech July 15 at the University of North Texas' 2nd annual Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writers Conference of the Southwest in Grapevine.

A former New York Times reporter, Talese is the author of such nonfiction books as Unto the Sons, The Kingdom and the Power, and Honor Thy Father.  Other guest authors and editors scheduled to speak at the conference include Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers; Melissa Fay Greene, author of Praying for Sheetrock; Ron Powers, author of Flags of Our Fathers, which has been developed as a movie by Steven Spielberg with Clint Eastwood directing; H.W. Brands, whose book The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography; and Kurt Eichenwald, a senior writer for The New York Times and author of Conspiracy of Fools, a bestseller about the Enron scandal. Eichenwald's previous book, The Informant, is in development as a major motion picture directed by Steven Soderbergh.

To register for the conference or buy tickets to Talese's speech, visit mayborninstitute.unt.edu. For more information, e-mail MaybornConferenceInfo@unt.edu or call (940) 565-4564.
 

ALA News

 Conference Highlights

Advocacy Institute

On-site registration will be available for the Advocacy Institute, held in conjunction with the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2006 Annual Conference in New Orleans. Registration for the 2006 Advocacy Institute is $25 for ALA members and non-members and includes lunch. You do not need to be registered for the annual conference to attend this program. On-site registration will take place from 11:30 to 12:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23, just prior to the Advocacy Institute, which will be held at the Astor Crowne Plaza, 739 Canal Street.

The program begins with a luncheon presentation on two timely legislative issues, the 65 Percent Rule and TABOR (Tax Payer Bill of Rights) laws.  Ann Dutton Ewbank, Chair of the AASL Task Force on Instructional Classification, will discuss the 65 Percent Rule, affecting school libraries, and Kay Boies, Executive Director, Oklahoma Library Assn., will provide an update on TABOR (Tax Payer Bill of Rights) Laws, affecting states throughout the country. Gloria Meraz, Texas Library Association, will moderate.

The main program will begin after lunch and will address advocacy topics such as goal setting, message development, crisis communications, and lobbying. Presenters include Gail Dysleski, president, New Jersey Library Trustee Association and Advocacy Institute Task Force member; Susan Schmidt, past-president, Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA); Sally Reed, executive director, FOLUSA; Carol A. Brey-Casiano, chair, Advocacy Institute Task Force and 2004-2005 ALA immediate past president; Fran Roscello, AASL; Dr. Ismail Adbullahi, associate professor, North Carolina Central University; Dr. Beth Paskoff, dean, School of Library and Information Science, Louisiana State University; and Keith Michael Fiels, executive director, ALA.

The Advocacy Institute at the 2006 ALA Annual Conference is co-sponsored by the Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas Library Associations, as well as SOLINET and the Mississippi State Library. It is a project of the Advocacy Institute Task Force of the ALA Public Awareness Committee, in partnership with the ALA Chapter Relations Office, the Association for Trustees and Advocates, the ALA Washington Office, the ALA Public Information Office, and Friends of Libraries USA. The Institute is made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation. For more information, visit www.ala.org/advocacyinstitute.

Texas Caucus

Are you going to New Orleans for the ALA Annual Conference?  Join other Texas librarians at the Texas Caucus on Sunday, June 25th, 1:00-2:00, to discuss the ALA issues from a Texas perspective. 

We'll meet in the ALA Council Suite at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel, Room 2910. Please join us! For further information, contact Sharon Amastae, Texas Chapter Councilor at samastae@yahoo.com or 915-203-1501.

Marketing

"Word-of-mouth marketing" is the latest buzz word when it comes to promoting your library, but what does it really mean? Plan to attend the annual PR FORUM during the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans; and you will learn what it is, why it works, and how you can use it to engage every staff member, trustee, Friend, faculty member, and student in spreading your library’s message. The PR FORUM will take place on Sunday, June 25, 2006, from 8 to 10 am, in Room 352 of the convention center.

TLA Names in the News

  • Sherilyn Bird is now the director of Texas Woman University’s library.

  • Belinda Boon has accepted a faculty position at Kent State University's School of Library and Information Science in Columbus, OH.

  • Christopher Jowaisas has joined the State Library as the new Library System Grants Administrator (Systems and TANG).

  • Sandra Pickett has been nominated for a full term on the Institute of  Museum and Library Services.

  • Eva Poole has been elected chair of the board of directors for the United Way of Denton County, Inc.

  • Loriene Roy is now president-elect of the American Library Association.

  • Julie Todaro was elected vice president/president-elect of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). 

 Deaths

  • Ann Bradshaw, previously employed by DCCCD, died last spring.

  • Mike Kelly, retired long-time dean of the UTSA Libraries, passed away in May.

  • Linda King (formerly Kondraske) who had worked at the University of Texas at Arlington libraries died last spring.

  • Gayle Travis, a former TALL Texan, died recently from lung cancer. 

 

UNSPAM TLA!

Well, since you are reading our online newsletter, you are way ahead of the tech curve! Please share the following information with any colleagues who don’t seem to know what has happened to their copy of TLACast:

  • We need to have a current and correct email address for all TLA members. Otherwise, individuals won’t get any email notices of newsletters or announcements. You can update information in the Members Only section of the TLA website.
  • Once we have your email, please be sure that your network administrator “un-spams” TLA messages. Believe it or not, not all networks understand that TLA messages are not spam! That’s almost un-American (at least, un-Texan), but it happens! So please ­ – advocate to your colleagues: UNSPAM TLA. (Quite cleverly, we will also be including this message in print publications.)