Editorial
Mark Smith

This year’s conference theme, "Local Touch, Global Reach," is more than merely waxing metaphorical, it aptly describes where libraries find themselves at the close of the century; and in a very real way it defines what the Texas Library Association is all about.

Libraries, of course, have always been the local link to the wider world of ideas. But until the coming of the Internet, that link was only as sturdy as the size of the physical collection. Now that TIF has connected another 150 public libraries to the Internet, and is about to do the same for community colleges, the global reach of libraries is a great deal farther. Projects like the Texas State Electronic Library, Texas Library Connection, and TexShare have contributed tremendously to ex-tending libraries’ global reach. But that global connection is meaningless without the local touch of one-on-one librarianship as it has been practiced as long as there have been libraries. An ever-expanding global reach of access combined with the local touch of trained personnel, essential print materials, and facilities that are centers for meeting, learning, and growing.

That libraries need both elements in this equation to survive is a point that has come to inform much of what the Texas Library Association is now doing for its members. As TLA President Barbara Immroth correctly points out, it is reflected in many—perhaps most—of the over 220 preconferences, special events, and programs of the annual conference. But the work of TLA goes beyond the conference.

Increasingly, TLA is seeking out grant opportunities for Texas libraries. TLA has just completed the award of the second round of Texas Book Festival awards, which, in the words of First Lady of Texas Laura Bush, "aim to put a book in the center of the family circle." Two other grant programs have been launched in the last few weeks. The Texas Hu-manities Grants program will provide $80,000 in funds to bring recognized scholars into local libraries to present humanities programs of global significance. Operation KidsLearn, funded with a $100,000 grant from the Southwestern Bell, will encourage the integration of Internet and technology into traditional services to children in disadvantaged urban communities in Texas.

In another major project, the TLA Public Relations Committee will use the 1998 Annual Conference to debut "Read For Your Life," a brand new media campaign, developed in collaboration with several groups within and outside of TLA (primarily including the ten Texas Library System coordinators). The goal of this effort—which will replace the old "Get the Facts" campaign—is to heighten the aware--ness of libraries among legislators, local officials, and the general public and will form the overarching message of TLA’s next legislative session. "Read For Your Life" suggests a back-to-fundamentals emphasis on the power of reading to change the lives of students, adults, pre-school children—a campaign designed to build the resources needed for the local touch half of the equation. While you are at the conference, go by booth number 1577 to view an early sampling of the campaign logo and materials and give us your reactions.

Finally, TLA’s global reach is reflected in the important work of one of the Association’s most dynamic new units, the Texas-Mexico Relations Committee. In the few years of this committee’s existence, it has succeeded in establishing a wide range of activities with our international neighbors. In this issue of TLJ, Mary Donley reports on her experiences as an exchange librarian in Mexico, and this year’s conference exhibits will feature many companies from Mexico who will introduce Texas librarians to a whole new world of information resources.

Every Texas librarian that joins TLA, attends the annual conference, and participates in the work of the Association, contributes to our global reach while helping to enhance the local touch of every library in the state. We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio!