Volume 26, No. 5 • September 2007
 Published by the Texas Library Association
 


Texas Library NEWS

The Texas Library Association is pleased to offer members a new service. We have contracted with Newspaperclip.com to provide information about recent online news concerning Texas libraries. 

The article excerpts have been clipped from Texas newspapers. Selection criteria include timeliness and broad interest to the library community. Stories primarily of a local nature are not included.

All articles referenced are available online. Access to the full piece may require users to log into specific newspaper sites. For copyright reasons, this service provides a brief synopsis only of the articles. TLA will post the summary for at least seven days, but availability of a particular article will depend on the archiving policies of individual papers.

To access TLA’s newclip service, go to www.txla.org and click on Texas Library News Clips.

Visioning Process Begins

TLA and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission are working on a statewide, grassroots visioning process that is of strategic importance to the library community. Many of you may remember Access, Texas back in the early 1990s. While this effort is similar in its grassroots nature, “Transforming Texas Libraries” is really about looking at what all libraries need to do to be vital, viable, and renewed for the next generation.

The desired outcomes of the effort is a plan that will:  energize Texas libraries; help us further integrate our work and interests with other educational structures; articulate the exciting and vital role of libraries in deploying information, resources, and instruction over the coming 10 years; build consensus on important directions for the collective library community; and provide a plan to guide statewide policy, as well as development at the local and institutional level.

A Steering Committee is already working on this process, which we hope will involve all members of the library community. A working task force of 100 people with meet in Austin in early December for a kick-off summit. Joan Frye Williams, George Needham, and Kathleen de la Peña McCook have been invited to get representatives thinking and visioning. The taskforce will then break into several working groups to begin drafting recommendations and objectives. The end product of this summit will be a working draft which will then be disseminated broadly for input statewide.

One of the most exciting components of this process is that, when we say we are going to look at matters with fresh eyes, we mean it. We are inviting representatives from all governing structures – higher ed, local governments, school districts – to participate, and we are setting a benchmark: half of all library participants must be emerging leaders in the profession. We are actively looking for the “young turks” in our institutions—those people who will be leading libraries 20 years from now. We always talk about the need to involve new librarians, to mentor them, and prepare them for leadership. We are going to ask them now to help shape their future in a very meaningful and long lasting way.

The Steering Committee will appoint about 65 participants to the summit, and we will take another 25 self-nominations from the field. If you know of some young, emerging leader with good ideas, please let us know who they are or encourage them to self nominate.  This process is going to be intense, so we are asking anyone who serves to really work.

 

 		 

 
    In this issue

TLA 2007
SPONSORS

DIAMOND
Level
Platinum Level
 
Gold  Level
 Baker & Taylor
Bound to Stay Bound
Brodart Company
Ingram Library Services
Librarian's Yellow Pages
netTrekker d.i.
Thomson Gale
Tocker Foundation
Veicon Technologies

Silver level
Davidson Titles
EBSCO
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Highsmith
LRMS
Sentry Technology
Library Design Systems
SirsiDynix
Star Book Sales
TASLA
Texas High School Project

Bronze Level
 ABC-CLIO
Biblionix
Escue & Associates
ProQuest USA

Texas Book Festival

The Texas Book Festival (TBF) will be held this year November 3 and 4 at the Texas State Capitol. This annual state event features author readings, signing, children’s activities, and special events. For full details, go to www.texasbookfestival.org.

The First Edition Literary Gala will be held on Friday, November 2 at the Four Seasons Hotel. The black tie event will feature author readings by Roy Blount, Jr., Marlee Matlin, and Douglas Brinkley; a sponsored cocktail hour; silent auction of literary treasures; and seated gourmet dinner. Ray Benson, lead singer for Asleep at the Wheel, will emcee the evening.

The Opening Ceremony takes place on Saturday, November 3, in the House Chamber at the State Capitol. The Opening Session will honor Dagoberto Gilb (Hecho en Tejas: An Anthology of Texas- Mexican Literature, among others) and Rolando Hinojosa-Smith (Korean Love Songs, Klail City Death Trip series, among others) with the Bookend Award for their contributions to Texas literature. The UIL Writing Contest winners will also be recognized.

Featured Authors

Johnny Bush, a legend among Texas musicians, wrote one of country music's (and Willie Nelson's) most classic songs and titled his autobiography in its honor: Whiskey River (Take My Mind): The True Story of Texas Honky-Tonk. Bush illuminates the history of Texas country music through his story of turmoil and triumph.

On August 7, 2007, Harry Hunsicker released Crosshairs, the third novel in his Lee Henry Oswald series. Oswald is a hard-nosed Dallas detective who at the beginning of Crosshairs is retired from the profession. Hunsicker brings him back to the world of "assorted creeps and lowlifes" to unravel a conspiracy of shady government officials.

Robb Walsh is the celebrated author of The Tex-Mex Cookbook, Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook, and now The Texas Cowboy Cookbook, which brings out the flavor of more than 100 cowboy dishes with extensive history and old-time pictures. The cookbook is made up of 10 chapters, each representing a different sect of cowboy cuisine.

Hollace Ava Weiner is a journalist-turned-historian who focuses on Texas Jewish culture. Her latest book, co-edited by Kenneth D. Roseman, is Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas, a definitive collection of essays about the Jewish experience in Texas.

Robert Wilder shares the humor and the horror of being a teacher-the noblest profession in the world-in Tales from the Teachers' Lounge, his second collection of essays. His critically acclaimed first book, Daddy Needs a Drink, is a collection of his monthly columns for the Santa Fe Reporter.

The Texas Book Festival celebrates authors and their contributions to the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination.  In late 1995, Laura Bush convened a task force to plan a book festival that would promote the joys of reading and serve to benefit public libraries.  Over the last 11 years, the Texas Book Festival has contributed more than $2 million to over 650 public libraries throughout the state, enabling them to expand their book collections and literacy programs.

Volunteers are needed for the Texas Book Festival

This year, the Texas Book Festival will be held on November 3 and 4 at the State Capitol, Austin Museum of Art, the Alamo Draft House, and other venues in Austin, Texas.  Over 900 volunteers are needed.  Please join us.  The Book Festival depends upon volunteers to make it successful.

Visit our website  - www.texasbookfestival.org - for more information about the festival. Volunteers sign-up online at www.texasbookfestival.org/volunteer.php. We need your help! Thank you for your continued support of the Texas Book Festival.

Texas Book Festival, phone: 512.322.0722;
Email: bookfest@texasbookfestival.org

 

TLA News

TLA 2008

Call for Contributed Papers

The TLA 2008 Annual Conference Program Committee seeks contributed papers for the annual conference in Dallas, April 15-18. The theme for the conference is Books, Bytes, & Beyond.  Of particular interest are papers addressing the topics of advocacy, diversity, collaboration, education, democracy, or implementation of technology.  However, we will gladly accept contributed papers on any topic.

Share your ideas with fellow colleagues by describing projects and/or research in a paper that can be presented in a 20-minute time period.  Presenters must register for the conference.

Send a proposal form, describing the content of the paper you would like to present at the 2008 conference, by 12 midnight CDT, Tuesday, October 9, 2007.  The online submission form is available on the TLA website at http://www.txla.org/conference/forms/papers.html

The finished paper – due by 12 midnight CDT, Wednesday, December 5, 2007 – may be sent as an email attachment to:  Marc Marchand, mdmarchand@tx.rr.com, 817/277-5573

Preconference: “Facilities for Books, Bytes, and Beyond”

Planning a new facility or just thinking about planning a new facility?  New libraries are being built across Texas and if you are involved in that effort,  “Facilities for Books, Bytes, and Beyond” on April 15,  2008 in Dallas should be on your “Must Do” list. Nationally known space planner Anders Dahlgren and architect Jeffrey Scherer will lead a full day seminar on planning and executing library facilities.

Anders Dahlgren, President of Library Planning Associates, Inc., will present his seven step strategy for planning and designing libraries that address today’s realities and tomorrow’s trends. Texas library experts from academic, public, and school libraries will tie national trends to local perspectives by sharing strategies and applications for successful facilities improvements projects. Plan now to be a part of this preconference jointly sponsored by the 2008 Conference Program Committee, CULD, PLD and TASL.

TBA Goes Symphonic!

David Filner, San Antonio Symphony’s director of education and community engagement, announced a special performance of one of the TBA Master List titles as part of the Young People’s Concert Series for the 2007-2008 season.

On November 6, 7 and 8, 2007, the San Antonio Symphony highlights Hubert Invents the Wheel. Children and parents alike will join Texas Bluebonnet Award-nominated authors Monte and Claire Montgomery and the San Antonio Symphony to meet Hubert, the inventor of the world’s first wheel. The authors will read passages from their book, and the Symphony will provide a live musical accompaniment.

Additional information, including how to purchase tickets, can be found at the San Antonio Symphony website. 

TBA: Choosing Student Representatives

When my principal and librarian told me I was chosen to go to the bluebonnet luncheon I was thrilled. – Aisha Siddiqi

I’ll never forget this exciting experience and the people I met. – Brianna Ford

I met nine new friends, had a great time, was treated very special and best of all met an award winning author, Mr. Joe Hayes. – René Martinez

I was so honored to meet a real author and to represent my school. – Abby Harkins

The above statements are from children who were chosen to represent the almost 170,000 Texas youth who voted for their favorite Bluebonnet nominee last year.  How can you have a representative from your TLA District at the Texas Bluebonnet Award luncheon in 2008?  Follow three easy steps:

  1. Print the application form at http://www.txla.org/groups/tba/forms/Student_Form.rtf

  2. Complete the form.

  3. Mail it to the address given on the form no later than Wednesday, October 10.

Keep your fingers crossed! Maybe you will have one of the 10 children from across the great state of Texas at the Texas Bluebonnet Award presentation on Thursday, April 17 during Annual Conference ’08. 

TALL Texans Update

The Texas Library Association will again host up to 24 librarians at the TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute, which will be held June 8 through 12, 2008. The Institute is a transformational four-day event that covers advanced material on leadership and communication styles, ethics, and organizational culture.

Maureen Sullivan and Jack Siggins will again be lead instructors for the program. Maureen Sullivan is a nationally known instructor on leadership and organizational change who teaches at the ACRL / Harvard Leadership Institute. Jack Siggins is University Librarian for George Washington University. They will be joined by six leaders from the Texas library community who will serve as mentors. The roster of mentors includes TLA President-Elect Melody Kelly of UNT and Laurie Thompson of UT-South Western Medical Center.

Application forms for this competitive program will be open online on the TLA website as of October 1. Applications will be due on December 3. Participants will be informed by March 1, 2008.

Join TPALS

TLA offers a great opportunity for our colleagues in the business side of library services. Our round table (Texas Professional Association for Library Sales) for vendors provides members with a chance to network, influence TLA, and unique tools for reaching members of the library community. To learn more, go to: http://www.txla.org/groups/tpals/join.html

Awards Information

Visit the TLA Awards website to find out how to make nominations for association awards.  You'll also find information on awards, scholarships, stipends, and grants offered by groups within TLA. The deadline for association awards is January 15. Unit deadlines vary.

TLA Award Categories for 2008

  • Librarian of the Year Award – given to a TLA librarian who has provided extraordinary leadership or service within the library community in the past 12-18 months.

  • Distinguished Service Award – given to a TLA librarian who demonstrates substantial leadership to the profession and provides outstanding and continuing service in one or more areas of the library profession.

  • Lifetime Achievement Award – given to a librarian in recognition of an exemplary career in librarianship.

  • Outstanding Services to Libraries Award – given to an individual or to an organization to recognize outstanding lay advocacy of libraries.

  • Wayne Williams Library Project of the Year Award – given in recognition of the project that exemplifies the highest levels of achievement, professional standards, and inspiration to other libraries.

  • Libraries Change Communities Award – given in recognition of a collaborative community effort to promote outstanding library-based initiatives in Texas.

  • Benefactor Award(s) – given 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.

  • PR Branding Iron Awards  – given in 10 categories for library public relations activities.

  • The LE@D online series has proven to be a great asset to people in libraries across Texas. Over 20,000 people have already taken LE@D courses since the program’s inception in 2003. Each and every month, TLA will highlight a particular course from the growing LE@D library of online workshops. Individual TLA members will get a 33% discount on these courses.

CE Corner

The advantage of the LE@D online training is that anyone can take classes from any Internet-linked computer – no travel costs, no travel time, and all courses are self-paced so that you can start and stop as needed. Yet, many courses also have the same advantages as face-to-face workshops, because participants can also join class discussions. Both LE@D and TLA staff will be available to assist people with the procedures for taking these classes.

LE@D courses are approved for three contact hours of credit by the Western Council of State Libraries (which includes the Texas State Library and Archives Commission). LE@D or TLA will also provide 1.5 credit hours on behalf of the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) when appropriate.

 October Course of the Month: Copyright Basics for Libraries

Halloween is approaching, and the spectre of a copyright lawsuit can be very scary. Copyright expert Carol Simpson discusses guidelines for avoiding legal and ethical snares. Estimated completion time: 3 hours.

  • Identify the origin and history of copyright

  • List and describe the six rights of a copyright holder

  • Explain fair use laws

  • Present several ways copyright affects public library service

  • Locate online and print resources on copyright when confronted with questions or concerns

November Course of the Month: Improving Co-worker Relationships

Is your co-worker driving you crazy? Is a boss, subordinate, or colleague on your last nerve? Nationally-known instructor Pat Wagner will teach methods for working with difficult people in your own organization. Estimated completion time: 90 minutes.

  • Understand the different communication techniques of fellow worker

  • Evaluate when a problem is a personal issue, versus a personnel issue

  • Discover ways to realistically cope with difficult situations

  • Disagree and still get along

  • Deal with situations where not everyone is doing his/her job

  • Reduce stress among busy co-workers

  • Succeed in building valuable new relationships with difficult co-workers

December Course of the Month: Retailing Methods & Techniques

‘Tis the season to be shopping! Get in on the holiday rush with this course on arranging your library to increase service and circulation with librarian Kerry McGeath. Estimated completion time: 90 minutes.

  • Identify and describe the similarities between running a library and a retail operation

  • Define a product and, more specifically, a library product

  • Understand the basics of resource allocation related to library products by utilizing the PAR (Plan, Act and Review) method

  • Use sales techniques to enhance library service and customer satisfaction

  • Utilize methods to measure output and productivity to set predictors of future behavior and accountability in order to control revenue, spending and essential processes

New Online Classes from Neal-Schuman and TLA

The Texas Library Association has partnered with the Neal-Schuman Professional Education Network to bring a new age of continuing education opportunities to Texas.  Through this partnership, you can receive training from top national instructors right in your own library, and Texas librarians receive a 10% discount from the listed price of each course if you register by the early bird deadline (5% discount from normal registration).

Some of the courses are webinars, online workshops that you can view on your own desktop, others are offered as conference calls. All courses include live instructors on the other end of the line so that you can ask questions. More details and registration information may be found at www.neal-schumanpen.com.

Especially for
PUBLIC Librarians

October 16, 6-7 pm
 Financial literacy, part I:
Budget planning and presentation

November 6, 11 am-12 noon
 Evidence-based librarianship:
A toolkit for public libraries

November 13, 6-7 pm
 Financial literacy, part II:
Financial documents

December 6, 2-3 pm
 Answering reference questions
about cancer

Especially for
ACADEMIC Librarians

November 8, 1-2 pm
 Behind the scenes of online course creation

December 3, 2-3 pm
 Roving with ease: Best approaches for roving with comfort and success

December 4, 3-4 pm
 Assignments worth doing: Collaborating with faculty to engage students in authentic inquiry

 

Especially for
SCHOOL Librarians

October 15, 3-4 pm
 It’s a Web 2.0 world! How will this impact our school library program?

October 22, 3-4 pm
 Teaching the Holocaust through picture books

October 23, 1-2 pm
 Graduating with 21st Century Skills

November 9, 1-2 pm
Talk, sing, READ! How to promote early literacy

November 16, 12-1 pm
 The art of appeal: Connecting books and readers

November 26, 3-4 pm
 Saving the environment – one library at a time!

December 5, 1-2 pm
 Business resources for non-business librarians

 

MANAGEMENT

  • November 12 - December 10 (5 week course; approximately 1 hour per week): Survival guide for new managers

  • November 29, 2-3 pm: Guiding librarians and information professionals through change

TECHNOLOGY

  • October 16, 12-1 pm: Lego your library: Social software and Web 2.0 building blocks

  • October 17, 2-3 pm: Library programs online: Possibilities and practicalities

  • October 18, 12-1 pm: Managing virtual library collections with e-metrics

  • November 1, 1-3 pm: Troubleshooting techniques for wireless networks

  • November 2, 12-1 pm: PowerPoint: Working with media

  • November 13, 12-1 pm: New rules of web design

  • November 15, 2-3 pm: Intranet tips for info pros

  • November 20, 2-3 pm: Introduction to the bibliomining process: Data mining for libraries

  • November 21, 2-3 pm: Do librarians need a Second Life?

  • November 27, 12-1 pm: Tagging, folksonomies, and libraries

    •

  • November 28, 2-3 pm: IM Reference @ Your Library

  • December 7, 12-1 pm: PowerPoint: Transitions and animations

  • December 11, 12-1 pm: In the eye of the beholder: Privacy, censorship, and identity on the Web

    •

Library News & Announcements

TSL at National Book Festival

Texas will be represented at the National Book Festival, Sept. 29, 2007, on the National Mall in Washington D.C., in the Pavilion of the States. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission will staff a Texas table to talk to visitors about family literacy and the work of Texas librarians and libraries. Each state is represented also on an NBF national reading list. Texas' selection for 2007 is "Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers" by Kathi Appelt and illustrated by Joy Fisher Hein.

A focus of the 2007 national festival is promotion of librarianship as a profession, including the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, which supports tuition assistance, curriculum development, service expectations, job placement, recruitment of non-traditional library students, and support for doctoral candidates to teach library science and research. In 2007, Texas institutions received nearly $3.2 million under this grant program.

Jennifer Ronsen, who will travel to D.C. to represent the Texas State Library for the festival, is in her second semester of study for her MLIS from the online program offered at the University of North Texas. She's been a staff member of the state library for the past eight years in the Talking Book Program, and worked in a bookstore for seven years prior to that. With the encouragement of her supervisors and some creative scheduling, she's enjoying the challenge of going back to school and is looking forward to promoting librarianship at the National Book Festival. She says, "It will be good to show other people that they can go back to library school at any time and it doesn't have to drastically alter their lives."

Learn more about the National Book Festival at www.loc.gov/bookfest.

Banned Books Week 2007

Banned Books Week 2007 is September 29 through October 6, 2007. The ACLU Foundation of Texas raises awareness of censorship and promotes the free exchange of ideas during national Banned Books Week each fall.

The annual report, "Free People Read Freely," of the ACLU Foundation of Texas Banned Books Project, is released during Banned Books Week, and numerous local ACLU of Texas chapters host readings in bookstores and libraries.

This year's will be the 11th annual report. To download a copy of the report and for a listing of statewide projects, go to: www.aclutx.org/projects/bannedbooks.php.

Skills Act

The US Congress is about to consider important legislation that would add the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act to the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).  This is the single most important piece of legislation concerning school libraries that will come before Congress this year.  

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor is now considering reauthorization of the NCLB. In order for the SKILLs Act to be included in NCLB – that is, to place a highly qualified school library media specialist in every school – each member of the House must co-sponsor the SKILLS Act. For additional information and to learn how you can support this effort, see Texline 228 (http://www.txla.org/pubs/texline/index.html).

Library to be Named after Laura Bush

A new public library planned in Austin will be the first in the nation named solely for Laura Bush. The Westbank Community Library District made the official announcement in August at a press event, where First Lady Laura Bush presented the library with the ceremonial first book of the planned new branch library.

Mrs. Bush praised library director Beth Fox for her work and dedication to the Westbank library community. She then discussed her love of reading, libraries, and library services.

The library is visited by more than 250,000 people every year, and it’s served by more than 100 volunteers every week. Seventy percent of families in the Westbank Community Library District have an active library card. And I expect that that is a record, probably in the United States. That’s really terrific.  It’s a central gathering place for people of all ages.

She concluded her remarks to the large audience, which included Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and State Comptroller Susan Combs, “…I’m honored that the result of this hard work –the new Westbank Community Library building branch – will be named for me.  Thank you all very, very much.”

Mrs. Bush then signed a copy of Bumblebee, Bumblebee, Do You Know Me?, which was presented to her by five-year-old Reece Phinney, granddaughter of Beth Fox.

K-12 Online Conference

The 2007 conference is scheduled to be held over two weeks, October 15-19 and October 22-26 of 2007. What's unique about this conference is that it takes place entirely online.  Sessions, which are presented in video formats, include Keynote speakers David Warlick and Clarence Fisher, and four learning strands. After the conference, all presentations will be available online.

For more information, go to http://k12onlineconference.org/.

Reference Material on Preservation Available

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) is working as the cooperator for the Bookshelf Project. Through this project, IMLS will give away 2000 sets of reference publications on conservation and preservation to institutions that have collections. This will include libraries with special collections. The application process is now in process.

AASLH encourages all libraries with special collections to apply. Additional information is available at www.imls.gov and at www.aaslh.org.

Librarian Idol

Save Half on Books had concluded its Librarian Idol Contest in which library users were able to vote for their favorite librarians. The results are in! Janis Benefield of Stratford High School has won $1,000 worth of books for her library. The folks at Save were so impressed with library users’ devotion to their librarians that they decided to extend book vouchers to the top 10 librarians: Cheryl Smith,  Virginia Cowen, Cheryl Beesinger, Norma Ruiz-Hearne, Monica Cardona, Rachel Grubbs, Heather Jurado, Debbie Hollis, Roxanna Salinas, and Danielle Nations. The winner of the 10% discount on all book purchases for one year is the Northeast Texas Library System.

The private school librarian winner is Dolores Hernandez of St. Mary’s Catholic School, which will receive $500 worth of books for her library. Top librarians in this category included: Annette Stull, Judy Knopp, Susan Owens, Lee Johnson, Elizabeth Figa, and Melissa Johnson.

TLA Names in the News

Rodney Bland, formerly of the Rowlett Public Library, is now at the Hurst Public Library.

Mary Herman, director of the Texas Book Festival, has announced her plans to retire from the Texas Book Festival.

Deaths

Ida Marrine Foster Courtney, longtime administrator for library services for Austin Independent School District, passed away in early August.

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