TLACast 26_4: August 2007

K-12 Databases

During the 2007 session, the Texas State Legislature added Rider 88 to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) budget. Rider 88 directs the commissioner of education to transfer amounts not to exceed $2.5 million in each year of the 2008-2009 biennium to TSLAC for the purpose of acquiring “online research and information resources for libraries in public schools, and for administrative expenses."

At this time, TSLAC is in discussions with TEA about implementation of the program, although TSLAC has announced that it will move forward with the EBSCO package at least for the upcoming school year as time is of the essence.

The following will qualify for the TSLAC / TEA program (from TSLAC’s administrative rules (13 TAC §§8.1–8.5):

A library must be part of a public school (accredited under Education Code Subchapter D Accreditation Status (§§39.071-39.076))
The school must have a public school library—an organized collection of printed, audiovisual and/or computer resources in a public school or public school campus (elementary or secondary). A public school library makes resources and services available to all students, teachers, and administrators.
The public school library must be managed by or report to a certified school librarian or other certified staff member in the public school or on the public school campus.

For more information, check the TexShare website at www.texshare.edu/k12/index.html, where we will post all announcements regarding the service. Questions and comments may be sent to the TexShare mailbox at texshare@tsl.state.tx.us.

TLA Announcements

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District Meetings Schedule (as of July 17)

District 1, Saturday, Sept. 22, Abilene, Abilene PL or NCCIL
District 2, Friday, Sept. 28, Amarillo
District 3, Friday, Oct. 19 –tentative, Georgetown
District 4, Thurs & Fri, Oct. 4 & 5, Brownsville
Theme: Libraries without Borders, Bibliotecas sin Fronteras
District 5, Saturday, Oct. 6, Athens, Trinity Valley CC
District 6, Fri & Sat, Sept. 28 & 29, El Paso, El Paso Main Library
District 7, Saturday, Sept. 29, Denton, TWU
District 8, Saturday, Oct. 13, Houston, Aldine High School
Theme: Books and Bytes on the Bayou
District 9, Saturday, Sept. 22, Lamesa
District 10, Saturday, October 6, San Antonio, UTSA – Business Building

For full details, visit the district meetings website.

2008 TLA Executive Board Nominees

The TLA Nominating Committee has announced the 2008 TLA Officer Candidates' slate.

TLA PRESIDENT-ELECT

Patrick Heath - lay advocate; retired mayor (Boerne)
Judie Lutz - retired special librarian (Houston)

TLA Treasurer

Jane Clausen - Director, Lubbock Public Library
Ivonne Jimenez - Deputy Director, El Paso Public Library

Rep-at-Large / Other

Ling Hwey Jeng – School of Library Information Studies, TWU (Denton)
Lynn Westbrook - School of Information, UT Austin

Rep-at-Large / School

Maribel Garza-Castro - St. John's School (Houston)
Maria Elena Ovalle - Region One ESC (Edinburg)

If anyone wishes to run in any TLA-wide election, you must submit a written petition to the TLA office no later than December 1, 2007.

TLA elections will be held in February 2008. To be eligible to vote, you must renew your TLA membership for 2008 by February 1. Elections will be held online. Any member who wishes to submit a traditional paper ballot will have the option of doing so.

Members of the nominating committee include Jan Moltzan (chair), Hollis McCright, Don Hamerly, Ana Cleveland, and Dede Rios.

Unit Elections

If your unit would like to participate in TLA's online balloting process, now is the time to start preparing. First, keep in mind the following principles:

The unit chair is entirely responsible for ensuring and monitoring that all candidate information has been entered into the online form by the deadline for inclusion in the online balloting process. Please do not send any Word documents to the TLA office.
If your unit uses the online balloting system, the unit elections will be held entirely online (i.e., no mail-in ballots).
The online system automatically communicates instructions and election results to the unit chair, who is then responsible for sharing this information with their nominating committees or candidates, as appropriate.

By November 1,

Units must declare their intent to participate in the electronic election by notifying the TLA office.
The slate of officers should be finalized for each unit.
Each unit chair should transmit to their own candidates the instructions for entering biographical information and statements of concern into the online system.

Unit Chairs, please watch for the email to be sent out on the unit chairs distribution list for additional information, or contact Patricia Smith (pats@txla.org) for further details.

TLA Executive Board and Council Actions

Both the TLA Executive Board and Council met twice during the 2007 Annual Assembly. Following is a summary of their actions, and full minutes may be obtained from the TLA office. The text of resolutions honoring contributions to librarians and libraries will be posted on the TLA website for one month.

Official action taken by the Texas Library Association Executive Board included the following:

accepted the consent agenda which included the minutes of the June meetings, the final report of the Task Force on Professionalism in Library and Information Science Education, and the FAQ on speaker reimbursement policies;
approved the request from the Public Relations and the Legislative Committees to utilize the PR Fund to collect data concerning public perceptions of libraries and library services;
accepted the recommendations by the Awards Process Task Force chaired by Eva Poole, pending final approval by Council;
set the registration fee for the TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute for the next three years;
accepted the Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee's Policies and Procedures Manual, as revised.

Official action taken by the Texas Library Association Council included the following:

approved the revised charge of the Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee;
approved changes to the charge of the Awards Committee by adding a Distinguished Service Award and a Libraries Change Communities Award and modifying criteria for several awards;
eliminated the requirement from the Scholarship and Research Committee's charge that scholarship recipients be full-time students;
approved a resolution posthumously honoring Marilyn Johnson;
approved resolutions honoring TLA members Christine Peterson, Rhoda Goldberg, and Patricia Smith;
approved resolutions honoring legislators Dan Branch, Robert Duncan, Judith Zaffirini, Lois Kolkhorst, Troy Fraser, Joe Strauss III, Ruth McClendon, Jeff Wentworth, Donna Howard, and Kip Averitt;
approved the 2007-2008 TLA operating budget.

TEXT OF HONOR RESOLUTIONS

Library News

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TBF

This year the Texas Book Festival will be held on November 3rd and 4th at the State Capitol, the Austin Museum of Art, the Alamo Drafthouse and other venues in Austin, Texas. Over 900 volunteers are needed to make this two-day event a big success. Come join us! Please visit our website for more information about the festival and how to volunteer.

TWU Grant

The Texas Woman’s University School of Library and Information Studies has received a grant of $691,323 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and a second grant of $38,400 from the Tocker Foundation to implement its Professional Education for Librarians in Small Communities (PELSC) project.

TWU, the Texas Library Association, and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission will provide a matching amount of $442,074 in both cash and in-kind services for the project.

The PELSC project offers an online degree program that will enable library workers currently serving in small and rural communities throughout Texas to earn a master’s degree in library science. The project will provide full support for tuition, fees and travel stipends. Participants will form a cohort and be assisted throughout their study by mentors who are professional librarians in public libraries in Texas.

Waco Bond Election

On May 12, Waco held a bond election with six propositions totaling $63 million, including a $12 million proposal for the Waco-McLennan County Library. Through strong advocacy efforts from the Friends group and other supporters, the Library measure passed 63% to 37% with an 1800 vote margin.

The $12 million will be used to build a permanent Hoover Library in west Waco (one we've had in rented space for 40 years) and a complete renovation of the central library. Genealogy and technical services at central will move to the new Hoover building allowing more room for adult and children's services at the central library. Combined with the new South Waco Library currently under construction, this will mean that within about 4 years all of Waco's library facilities will be either new or completely renovated.

New Tools for Dealing with Disasters

A new collection of handy tools designed especially for libraries, archives, museums, historic sites, and historic preservation and arts organizations has been released by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force. The tools are the result of an initiative to develop practical applications for the lessons from Hurricane Katrina, such as helping cultural institutions apply for disaster aid and developing relationships with emergency responders. The new tools are available as free downloads.

Some of the documents include:

Tips for Working with Emergency Responders
Guide to Navigating FEMA and SBA Funding
Recommended Professional Emergency Management Training

Awards & Scholarships

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Knowledge is Power!

The winner of the 2007 GODORT/MARCIVE Knowledge is Power Award is Coby Condrey of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Condrey received the award at the 2007 TLA annual conference in San Antonio.

This award honors an individual recognized by his or her peers as being an active supporter and advocate for the use of government information in education, research, and/or commerce. The award is supported by a $400 contribution by MARCIVE, Inc.

TLA PR Branding Iron Awards

As part of TLA’s effort to solicit examples of Texas PR activities, the Association is announcing the Texas Library PR Branding Awards. TLA will offer PR awards in each of 10 categories, with one Best of Show prize, which will be announced at the TLA 2008 Annual Conference in Dallas.

To enter, participants must submit entries to the TLA Office, ATTN: Texas Branding Iron Awards, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Ste. 401, Austin, TX 78746. The deadline is February 1, 2008.

Cover letters

All entries must include a cover letter. Letters must:

be signed by an administrator of the library, organization, or group;
describe the PR activity in 100 words or less;
include the name, phone number, and email of a contact person; and
specify the category for which the entry is submitted. (See the list under “Categories.”)

Eligible period and supporting materials

Entries may cover PR activities conducted since 2005. All entries and supporting materials will remain with TLA. Only items for which the sender has copyright ownership may be sent.

Format of entries

Entries should include no more than two pages of description. The bulk of the entry should include the actual products and examples of the PR effort. Supplemental materials may include, but are not limited to, photographs, scrapbooks, CDs, DVDs, announcements, and documents. Please note that all audio and visual materials must be submitted in digital form. No audiotapes or video tapes will be accepted.

Categories

Outdoor Advertising: billboards, bookmobiles, etc.
Editorial Page Strategies: letters-to-the-editor, guest columns, and editorials (resulting from editorial board visits)
Speeches and Speakers Bureaus: programs for speakers bureaus (training materials, speeches), prepared library speeches, and elevator speeches (two-minute speeches)
Broadcast Advertising (paid or earned): PSAs, TV/radio coverage/ads, interviews, etc.
Print Media Advertising (paid or earned)
Non traditional media promotions: blogs, online auctions, list announcements, etc.
Special Events
PR Plan/Campaign for either year-round activities or a special event
Brands and logos
Collateral Materials: give-aways, specialty items, that prized book bag, etc.

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TLA Award Nominations

I’d like to thank everyone who made this possible…

It’s awards season again. Remember, now is the time to begin thinking about all of the great library work being accomplished and making plans to have good work rewarded. TLA and its many units present awards at annual conference. Association-wide awards include the following:

Librarian of the Year Award
This award is given to a librarian who has provided extraordinary leadership or service within the library community in the past 12-18 months. TLA membership is a requirement for this award.

Distinguished Service Award
This award is given to a librarian who demonstrates substantial leadership to the profession and provides outstanding and continuing service in one or more areas of the library profession. TLA membership is a requirement for this award.

Lifetime Achievement Award
This award is given to a librarian in recognition of an exemplary career in librarianship. Considerations for the selection of award recipients should include an extended record of service, active participation in professional organizations, and demonstrated creative leadership and service to the library profession.

Outstanding Services to Libraries Award
This award, which can be given to an individual or to an organization, recognizes outstanding lay advocates of libraries. It may be given in relation to such activities as the advancement of library services, the promotion and development of sound library policies and standards, the successful advocacy of the library to the community, and a significant contribution to the promotion of library legislation, or active participation in TLA.

Wayne Williams Library Project of the Year Award
This award is made in recognition of the project that exemplifies the highest levels of achievement, professional standards, and inspiration to other libraries. Any library project in operation during the previous calendar year, in any type of library, may be recommended for this award. Nominations may be judged on the breadth of the project, as well as the extent to which a library has improved its service by means of the project described. A project which involves more than one library may be considered for this award. The award recipient(s) will be awarded a cash amount from the annual earnings of the Wayne Williams Fund, with the exact amount determined by the Executive Board.

Libraries Change Communities Award

This award is given in recognition of a collaborative community effort to promote outstanding library-based initiatives in Texas. Its aim is to recognize good practices in any innovative library-related effort that involves community, demonstrates imagination and innovation, and has the potential to be developed and adapted elsewhere. A community can be defined in the broad or narrow sense depending on the collaborative effort. “Communities” could include schools, public libraries, TexShare community, friends groups, colleges, etc.

Benefactor Award(s)

These awards are made in recognition of substantial donations such as land, buildings, stocks, cash, and collections by individuals, institutions, and foundations that have made a significant contribution to libraries and their programs.

Check out the TLA Awards website to find out how to make nominations. The deadline for most awards is December 1. Also, please make note that the TLA Council voted to revamp the Distinguished Service Award and the Libraries Change Communities Award. Full details will be posted soon.

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Library Endowment and Advancement Fund (LEAF)

*Contributions (1/1/2007-6/30/07)*
Partner ($750-$999) Black, Estelle Stone, Sam Guardian ($500-$749) Brown, Steven Fleeger, Dale Fortin, Maurice Gillman, Sandra Gross, Cheri Heath, Joan Jeng, Ling Hwey Lee, Catherine McMannis, Meredith Sheffy, Cyd	Promoter ($250-$499) Amastae, Sharon Bartz, Carol Compton, Sue Croft, Helen Henderson, Sheila Meraz, Gloria Poole, Eva Mentor ($100-$249) Cayton, Janice McNeely, Bonnie Smith, Patricia	Patron ($50-$99) Gray, Gloria Tuohy, Patricia Donor (0-$49) Dawkins, Diantha Hoffmann, Mary Leggett, Elaine Plotkin, Elaine Reese, R. Sefrna, Ann

TLA Names in the News

Correction: The director of the Lena Armstrong Library in Belton, one of the Dobie award winners, is Kim Adele Kroll.

Marsha Baker has resigned as coordinator of the Texas Panhandle Library System and has now moved to Bethesda, Md.
Sarah Booth will be the new assistant director of the Montgomery County Library System.
Diane Bruxvoort is now the assistant dean for collection services with the University of Houston Libraries.
Shirley Dickerson became director of the Ralph W. Steen Library at Stephen F. Austin State University on August 1.
Steve Horton was appointed as technical services librarian last winter.
Diane Neal has accepted a faculty position in the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University.
Regina Stemmer of the Houston Public Library has been appointed the new chief of neighborhood libraries.
Mary Jo Venetis was selected to participate in Vanderbilt University's Peabody Academic Library Leadership Institute.
Longtime TLA member, Kelvin Watson, a 2007 Spectrum Scholar attending the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University (Durham) was selected at the 2008 RUSA Intern.
Christine (Tine) Walczyk has been appointed manager of Continuing Education and Consulting, Library Development Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Tyler Walters of Georgia Tech will be the new university librarian for Rice (Houston).
Wendy Willeford, administrative coordinator, and Hiawatha Henry, senior library assistant, of Houston Public Library were recently recognized with the City's BRAVO! Award, the highest recognition program for city employees.

Deaths

Vance Hunt of Vance Hunt and Associates and Library Bureau passed away on June 6 of a massive cerebral hemorrhage.
Marilyn Johnson of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission passed away in June.
Patricia Johnson, longtime TLA member, passed away March 7th.
John Powell, public services manager at Forest Hills Library in San Antonio, died this summer.
Raymond F. von Dran, a former dean of SLIS, passed away on July 23 in a New York City hospital.

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.)

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