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In this issue:
State Library and Archives Commission Adopts School Library Standards
Just Fiddling Around: All public and academic libraries to receive recording
TLA Library Endowment and Advancement Funds (LEAF) Donations
Plan Now to Attend TLA Annual Assembly
Meetings! Speakers! Bats! Fun for the Whole Family
Texas Library Association Annual Assembly will be held Sunday, July 20 to Tuesday, July 22 at the Hyatt Regency Town Lake Hotel in Austin. During Annual Assembly, the officers of all TLA units and committees meet to discuss the business of the Association, approve the Association’s FY 1997-98 operating budget, and plan the next annual conference.
But Assembly isn’t all work. Planners of this event have devised an agenda that will entertain, inform, and enlighten whether you are in a school, public, academic, or special library. The location of the Hyatt Regency is ideal for enjoying some of Austin’s unique summer activities such as viewing the famous Congress Avenue bats (the largest urban bat population in the world), taking boat rides, or swimming at nearby Barton Springs Pool.
Special Events
Sunday evening will feature several programs of special note. Robert S. Martin, director and librarian, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, will describe current State Library programs, discuss activities for the upcoming year, and brief attendees on other matters pertaining to the Texas State Library. TLA has also invited Mark Littleton, executive director of the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC), to attend and inform members of SBEC plans to develop standards for the certification of school librarians.
Also Sunday evening, the TLA Storytelling Round Table will host a storytelling concert for the enjoyment of Assembly attendees. Be sure to bring your children to this fun event.
William Mitchell, the newly appointed chair of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board (TIF), has been invited to speak at the Monday July 21 luncheon. Come hear Mr. Mitchell describe TIF plans to provide hardware and telecommunications connections for libraries, schools, and higher education. Mr. Mitchell’s remarks will be particularly timely in light of the immediate plans to connect public libraries to the Internet (related article).
Training Opportunities
Training will be offered for unit planners responsible for conference programming. Anyone considering presenting a program or preconference at the 1998 TLA Conference in San Antonio should attend this meeting to get the latest information on all the details involved in planning a successful presentation. Assembly attendees will also learn how to plan a meal or beverage function at the TLA conference.
Jeanne Douthitt, TLA manager of financial services, will instruct unit officers on how to decipher TLA unit budgets and ledgers and how to understand unit finances. Cathy Anglin, TLA coordinator of administrative and financial services, will present a program on how to prepare and publish a unit newsletter or other publication with emphasis on preparing publications to conform with bulk mail guidelines.
All meetings at Annual Assembly are open, and guests and TLA members who are not officers are welcome to attend. Registration and housing information will be mailed to TLA officers in early June. For more information on meeting times, or for registration materials, contact Kathy Pustejovsky at 800/580-2852 or by e-mail at kathyp@txla.org.
Libraries and the 75th Legislative Session
TexShare funded; library district bill passes
The 75th Legislative Session has ended, and TLA has begun to assess the impact of the session on libraries. While some items in TLA’s legislative agenda were achieved, with the exception of new money for TexShare, funding issues were largely unrealized. This was not unique to libraries. The governor’s push to use the state’s billion-dollar budget surplus to fund property tax relief meant that most state agencies saw only cuts this session. Last-minute hopes that the failure of the tax relief bill would mean the availability of funds for other projects were dashed when the Legislature used the surplus to fund an increase in homestead tax exemptions.
The following is a final report on the status of legislation and funding issues supported by TLA during this session.
Funding for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The State Library’s budget decreased by $273,000 per year of the biennium, mainly due to cuts in newly requested positions. Further, no supplemental items were funded with the exception of a one-time $48,000 expenditure to enhance security at the Lorenzo de Zavala State Library and Archives Building. As a result of these cuts, the State Library will not have the funds to support school library consultation, preservation consultation, statewide reference back-up activities, or repairs to the Liberty facility. One bright spot: the State Library again this biennium received funds to provide Internet connections for public libraries, but since the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) will now be providing those connections, the State Library will have some funds to redirect to other needed areas.
Funds for School Library Materials. Early in the session, Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo proposed a rider that would fund $1 per student per year of the biennium to fund library materials for students. This rider went unfunded. However, $32 million was appropriated to provide reading resource materials to support the Governor’s reading initiative. As written, this rider makes these funds available to schools on a competitive basis and specifically references library materials.
TexShare represents the most significant victory for TLA and for academic libraries statewide. The passage of HB 2721 by Hunter establishes TexShare in statute and locates administrative oversight of the project with the Texas State Library. Further, adoption of a last-minute rider authored by Rep. Dianne Delisi and supported by Reps. Cuellar and Hunter, moves $493,000 from the Coordinating Board and adds another $500,000 per year from general revenue and $105,000 from TIF in 1998. These amounts are sufficient to extend membership in the consortium to community colleges and independent colleges and universities in Texas. The State Library also received two additional staff positions to administer TexShare, recovering positions that had been cut under the so-called phantom positions rider.
Long overdue library materials. For the second straight legislative session, attempts failed to secure protection of library materials in the Texas Penal Code. This was a hard-fought battle and one that produced not only a great deal of media coverage, but a huge effort on the part of many TLA members who wrote and testified in favor of this bill. In the end, however, the bill died in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee because the 3-3 vote was one short of the number needed to refer the bill to the Senate floor.
Library Districts. The passage of SB 1674 (Barrientos) in the final week of the session means that Texas now joins the two dozen other states that allow voters to choose to form library districts. This bill passed despite significant odds because of the sheer determination of a core group of supporters in the West Lake Hills area west of Austin. An amendment makes this bill apply only in counties with a population of 100,000 or more.
Materials title in the Texas Library System. SB 1386 (Haywood), which saves a great deal of staff time by raising the inventory and title amount for purchases in the Texas Library System from $300 to $1,000, passed without difficulty. Another bill, SB 515 (Moncrief), allowing regional library systems to carry over unexpended balances to accumulate cash reserves, also passed.
Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund restoration. SB 249 (Sibley) restores funding for the TIF to the full amount set forth by HB 2128 in the last session and removes the dedicated fund account split that previously slotted libraries to one fund. A bill by Rep. Glen Maxey (HB 1139) that would put two public librarians on the TIF Board died in committee.
Free tuition for children of classroom teachers. Finally, two bills that would have provided free tuition at state universities to children of experienced classroom teachers (HB 1580 and SB 716), but did not extend the benefit to librarians, died in committee as did most other bills providing tuition breaks to various groups.
To search for the text, history, etc. of any bill, click here.
TLA thanks our friends in the Legislature
TLA would like to take this opportunity to recognize each member of the Texas Legislature who supported libraries during the 75th Session. TLA encourages you to take the time to thank these members for their actions on behalf of Texas libraries, librarians, and their patrons.
Rep. Tony Goolsby and Sen. Rodney Ellis
Rep. Terry Keel and Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos
Reps. David Swinford, Lon Burnam, Harryette Ehrhardt, Ted Kamel
Reps. Sherri Greenberg and Elliott Naishtat
SBEC to Certify School Librarians
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) has announced its plans to proceed with the development of standards required to receive a Librarian certificate. This action moves school librarians ahead of other educators who have been awaiting such standards. The action came at the SBEC meeting held May 16.
The first step in the process is to create an advisory committee to develop the standards. The Board will select a group of library practitioners from across Texas to serve on the advisory committee which will make recommendations to the Board regarding the standards. The committee will be empaneled by August 1 and charged to deliver a report to the Board no later than April 1, 1998.
The advisory committee will consist of 15 members chosen by the board. Any person holding the Learning Resources Specialist Certification is eligible. At the May 16 meeting, SBEC staff asked Board members to recommend appointments for the committee. TLA has contacted each member of the committee as well as SBEC staff with a list of names recommended by the TLA and TASL executive boards.
A statement of purpose distributed by the Board at the May 19 meeting states that it is the intent of the Texas Legislature that “all students demonstrate competence in reading, writing, computing, problem solving, critical thinking, applied technology, and communicating.” This statement goes on to say that “the role of the librarian is seen as a crucial component in facilitating the achievement of these goals by serving as teacher, information specialist, and instructional consultant.”
State Library and Archives Commission
Adopts School Library Standards
The State Library and Archives Commission has officially adopted school library services standards and guidelines for Texas. This action, which came at a May 19 meeting of the Commission, places the standards in administrative code. Because there is no consequence for not adhering to the standards, they are purely voluntary. Nevertheless, the adoption of the standards by the State Library is an important recognition in state regulation of the importance of and the need for adequate support for school libraries.
The State Library received a mandate to create school library standards in the last session of the Texas Legislature. Previously, the Texas Education Agency was responsible for oversight of school libraries, but standards or guidelines for school libraries did not exist in the administrative code.
Jeanette Larson, manager of consulting and continuing education in the Library Development Division, and a committee appointed by State Librarian Robert Martin, developed the standards. During the development of the standards, Ms. Larson and the committee held a series of 30 open meetings across the state. Over 1,000 librarians, teachers, parents, and school administrators attended these meetings. On April 1, the standards were published in the Texas Register for an official 30-day comment period.
In adopting the standards, the Commission praised Ms. Larson and the committee, chaired by Julie Todaro of Austin Community College, for their hard work and dedication.
The standards establish four levels of school library service: exemplary, recognized, acceptable, and below standard. Each level addresses criteria for the library program and describes learner impacts in five general areas of service: library learning environment, curriculum integration, resources, library program management, and facilities. A complete version of the standards can be found at: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/LD/codefinx.htm.
For a more thorough discussion of the development of the school library standards, see “The 1,000-Mile Journey to School Library Standards: A Step-by-Step Account” by Jeanette Larson in the upcoming Summer 1997 issue of the Texas Library Journal.
TIF Board Receives Library Report Proposal
for public library Internet connections
The Libraries and Telemedicine Advisory Committee of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board has received a report on funding public library Internet access that would connect all libraries within two years. The report came from the Libraries Subcommittee, chaired by Louella Wetherbee of the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. The proposal, dated May 9, 1997, proposes three non-competitive grant programs to provide the connections. The first program would provide an estimated $712,000 in grants to libraries with annual circulation of under 50,000 with an Internet point-of-presence available in the local calling area. The second program would provide up to $6.1 million to provide basic Internet connection for public libraries with annual circulation of over 50,000. The third program, which would cost as much as $15 million, would bring existing public library Internet connections up to standard.
The report recommends that these grants be provided to all willing and eligible public libraries that apply. TIF is urged to fund a standard package of equipment, software, training, and first-year telecommunications costs.
The report also recommends that TIF work with the Texas State Library in the following areas:
The report also contains a recommendation on the funding of the TexShare academic library consortium. The report is the first in a series of reports to be delivered by the Libraries Subcommittee. Future reports will address community college connections and community networks. The TIF Board is expected to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for public library connections later this year.
The proposal was developed by the subcommittee with comments received at a forum at the Texas Library Association conference in Fort Worth. Members of the committee that drafted the report are Sharon Carr, June Garcia, George Huffman, Dana Rooks, Bob Seal, and James Stewart.
JUST FIDDLING AROUND:
All public and academic libraries to receive
recording
The Ranch Dance Fiddle, a CD featuring the music of a legendary western swing fiddler Frankie McWhorter, will be sent to all public and academic libraries in Texas courtesy of the Ranching Heritage Association. This CD project documents the cowboy fiddler and ranch dance tradition of the Texas Panhandle. McWhorter is joined on the recording by former members of the Bob Wills band, the Texas Playboys.
Production of the CD was sponsored by the Ranching Heritage Association in conjunction with The Southwest Collection at Texas Tech University. Donation of the disk to public and academic libraries is part of the efforts of the association to preserve and document the cowboy and ranch music tradition of the Llano Estacado region.
TLA Library Endowment and Advancement Funds
(LEAF)
Donations from as of May 29, 1997
Many thanks to all who have contributed to the LEAF campaign.
Contributions may be sent to the TLA office at any time throughout the year.
Guardian $500-$749
Area of Greatest Need
Ron Stiger/Coin Copiers
Promoter $250-$499
Christina Woll Memorial Fund
Miriam C. Patton
Elizabeth Crabb Fund
Dale G. Fleeger
Miriam C. Patton
Providence Associates
Mentor $100-$249
Whitten Fund
Marvin A. Rich
Legislative Reserve Fund
State Agency Libraries of Texas
Pat Doyle
Hetherington Leadership Development Fund
Reginald Knowles
Bonnie McNeely
Elizabeth Crabb Fund
Friends of Pottsboro P.L.
Paris P.L. Advisory Board
Lillian Moore Bradshaw
Linda Claytor
Beth Crabb
Nancy P. Crabb
Sharon Criswell
Ray D. George
Karl Gruben
Barbara Immroth
Reginald Knowles
Judith Krug
Betty Landon
Jan Moltzan
JoAnn Oliphant
Barbara Rhodes
Marvin A. Rich
Ruth Semrau
Patricia Smith
Selena Solis
Donald Thomas
James Tunnell
Flora Wilhite
Karen Williams
Christina Woll Memorial Fund
Lectorum Publications
Michelle Balis
Ray D. George
Annette & Garry Nall
Jackie Riemenschneider
Patron $50-$99
Area of Greatest Need
Nancy Gooch
Christina Woll Memorial Fund
Jeanne Ann Gibson
Jean Heath
Janelle Paris
Elizabeth Crabb Fund
Friends of Rockwall P.L.
Friends of R & T Smith Library
Friends of Whitesboro P.L.
Whitesboro Public Library
Whitewright Public Library
Linda Allmand
Carol Bartz
Kathleen Bradbury
Michael Capilo
Sharon Criswell
Ken & Sondra Ferstl
Barbara Gubbin
Graves, Dougherty, Hearon, & Moody
David Henington
Marilyn Hinshaw
Lee LaCaff
Jeanette Larson
Sandy Melton
Mrs. Thad M. Neal
Frieda Sheel
Elizabeth Snapp
Hetherington Leadership Development Fund
Izoro Daphane Kerley
Scholarship & Research Fund
Rose D. Jackson
Izoro Daphane Kerley
Wayne Williams Fund
Jeanne Ann Gibson
Whitten Fund
Sue Thetford
Donor Up to $49
Area of Greatest Need
Karen Harrell
Ray & Roberta Janeway
Becky Menti
Ema Ruth Russell
Elmer G. Sackman, Jr.
Christina Woll Memorial Fund
Jim Geiger & Associates
Sunbelt Media, Inc.
Carol Bartz
Mary Bryan
John Gatlin
Mary Pat Roderick
Teresa White
Bonnie Whitworth
Jerilynn Williams
Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee
Elizabeth Crabb Fund
Atlanta Public Library
Suzanne Beard
John Becker
Cynthia Bennett
Linda Berndt
Carol Black
Merlin Breaux
Carla Wolf Bryan
Nancy Buchanan
Robert Burton
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Claytor
Robert Crossman
Diantha Dawkins
John Deats
Frances de Cordova
Enchanted Forest Books for
Children-Dallas
Linda B. Ford
Roselyn George
Susan Goodson
Gloria Gray
Mrs. Eric Greenfield
Lynne Handy
Dorothy Haynes
Billie Grace Herring
Nancy Hill
Natalie Hill
Barbara Jones
Laura Kimberly
Sue Lawrence
Susan S. Mann
Elizabeth Martin
Henrietta Meurer
Joyce Morrison
Patricia Mulkey
Mary H. Musgrave
Jeff Rippel
Mary Roberts
Rodolfo Sanchez
Wayne C. Sellers
Susan Soy
Pam Spooner
Will Stuivenga
Barbara Swanson
Dave & Jacquelyn Thompson
Carrie Torti
Marinda Van Dalen
Hope Waller
Elizabeth Warmack
Legislative Reserve Fund
Susan Fishman Frank Hankins
Scholarship & Research Fund
Elizabeth Haynes
Wayne Williams Fund
Pamela Graham
Mary Lou Reddick
Rob Sieracki
Robert Lee and Sandra Sieracki
Kim Stowers
Barbara Swanson
Whitten Fund
Virginia Whitten
Hurst Wins Summer Reading Grant
The Hurst Public Library has been named the recipient of the ALSC/Book Wholesalers Summer Reading Program Grant for an Outstanding Public Library Summer Reading Program for Children sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. The library will receive $3,000 from Book Wholesalers, Inc., and free theme materials for 100 children from the ALA Graphics Department.
The winning application was submitted by Robin Works Davis, who has designed a reading program around the ALA reading theme “Solve Mysteries. . .Read.” Jan Irving, chair of the National Reading Committee, said committee members were impressed with the library’s plans to work with a number of community partners and to include people of all ages.
To kick off the program, the library has planned “Mysteryfest” in partnership with the Hurst Police Department, the Council of Camp Fire, and the National Crime Prevention Council.
TLA Also Wishes to Thank. . .
The following corporate sponsors of special unit events at the
1997 TLA Conference in Fort Worth.
Athena/Nichols Advanced Technologies
Star Book Sales
Sunbelt Media
Librarians Mourn Death of Virginia Whitten
Friends and colleagues of Virginia Whitten were saddened to learn of her death May 24, following a long bout with cancer. Virginia, and her late husband, Sam Whitten, a professor of library science at the University of Texas, were faithful members of the Texas Library Association and vigorous advocates of library issues. For 20 years, Virginia was the librarian at Eanes Elementary School in Austin.
Virginia and Sam were lifelong Democrats and close friends with many notables including former governor Ann Richards and columnist Molly Ivins. They were much beloved as well by the many librarians and library school students to whom they opened their home, with whom they loved to discuss and debate library issues, and who will miss Virginia’s warm hospitality, her sharp wit, and her keen insights.
Appointments/Changes:
Elizabeth Dupuis and Mark McFarland, librarians at the University of Texas at Austin, have won 1997 Library Excellence Awards from the university’s General Libraries. The awards, which recognize distinguished contributions to the library, carry a $1,000 stipend.
Julie Walker, formerly the director of library and media services at the Round Rock Independent School District, has been named executive director of the American Association of School Librarians and the Young Adult Library Services Association, divisions of the American Library Association.
Peggy Leslie has announced her retirement from the Deerpark Middle School Library, Round Rock ISD.
Patricia Larsen will be leaving her post as director of libraries at the University of Texas at El Paso on July 15 to assume a new position at California State University at Sacramento.
Tracey Mendoza-Cuellar is the proud mother of a new baby girl, Elissa Marie, born March 8.
Kathleen Krause, formerly automation consultant for the Alamo Area Library System in San Antonio, has joined the staff of the Texas State Library as Internet grants manager with the Library Development Division.
Send your “Names in the News” to: Mark Smith at marks@txla.org
Have You Changed?
TLA members who have had changes of status since sending their membership renewal are encouraged to let TLA know. The staff is now preparing the 1997-98 membership directory. There is still time to include changes of status--job changes, new addresses, name changes, new phone and fax numbers and new e-mail addresses--before the directory is printed.
Send these changes to Haven Toothman at 800/580-2852, 512/328-8852 (fax), or havenwt@txla.org