President's Perspective
Barbara Immroth

Annual Assembly was an active, energetic meeting; thanks to each and every one of you who came and worked and played so hard. Each unit is working through the TLA Strategic Plan in order to keep the association moving forward in the directions that we have agreed on. We celebrated Pat Smith’s 10th anniversary as TLA executive director with a roast and reception. Pat seemed quite surprised at some of the stories told by the roasters.

The Legislative Committee evaluated TLA’s progress in the last legislative session and began the long process of planning for next session. Personal members who made donations of at least $10 to the Crabb Fund proudly wore rainbow ribbons on their name tags. The Texas Professional Association for Library Sales (TPALS) contributed $2,100 in rental fees for table top exhibits to the Elizabeth Crabb Fund.

Many thanks to the TPALS members who provided information and contacts for attendees: 3M Library Systems Division, ATHENA/Nichols Advanced Technoloqies Inc., Baker & Taylor, Cover-Craft-Perfection Lemming Disney Educational Production, Elm Tree Management, EDC-Usborne Books, EBSCO Information Services, Greg Escue and Associates, Grolier Educational and Publishing Co., Mustard Seed Press, Perma-Bound Books, PROVIDENCE Associates, Inc. Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers, Recorded Books, Inc., Texas Jewish Historical Society, UMI, H.W. Wilson Company. TLA appreciates support of each and every one of these companies.

The 1998 Conference Program Committee presented plans for the conference, trained unit program planners and scheduled program slots for the San Antonio Conference. A record number of preconferences ensures that there will be something of interest for everyone. Dan Rather and Julia Alvarez, author of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, are among those featured speakers to have already confirmed. The Local Arrangements Committee is cooking up all sorts of delightful events. Make your plans now to attend the 1997 TLA Annual Conference, Texas Libraries: Local Touch-Global Reach, in San Antonio, April 1–4, 1998.

Fall promises a number of activities for TLA members and units. The Public Relations Committee is developing a new media campaign for Texas libraries to heighten awareness among legislators, elected officials, and the public of the important role of libraries. Collaborative initiatives are underway with the Texas Council for the Humanities and The Texas Museum Association. The Centennial Celebration and History of ALA Committees are hard at work laying the ground work for 2002. The Texas-Mexico Relations Committee is leading the way for increased cooperation across the border. I am also proud to report that graduates of the four TALL Texans Institutes are participating in all aspects of the association.

TLA’s four tickets to the NCAA Final Four games will be raffled off this fall with the proceeds benefiting the Crabb Fund. Buy your tickets before December 1, 1997, in time to have the ‘dream’ holiday gift for your favorite basketball fanatic. The Membership Committee has issued a challenge to all of us to recruit new TLA members. The $250 district to district and individual incentives will be explained in detail in the TLA-Cast. An Executive Board member will bring greetings from TLA at each district meeting this fall. The district programs sound exciting and I am looking forward to seeing you at the meetings that I attend.