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By Wendy Clark
Six Texas public libraries were recently selected to participate in the Community Advocacy Project, an initiative of Libraries for the Future (LFF) and Friends of Libraries U.S.A. Libraries for the Future is a national non-profit organization founded in 1992 by a group of library advocates and librarians concerned about trends toward political disengagement, social conflict, and restricted access to the skills and information needed for full civic participation. The LFF program is divided into the following areas: Advocacy, Education and Research,and Demonstrations.
The Community Advocacy Project is funded through a grant from the Viburnum Foundation. Created in 1989, the Viburnum Foundation focuses its grantsmaking on public libraries. They also support the Viburnum Family Literacy Project which is administered through the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.
The project is designed to increase citizen support for public libraries and to strengthen the efforts of local library advocates. Eight states were chosen to participate in the project based on their low level of support for public libraries. The states participating in the project other than Texas are Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
The six libraries selected for the project are: Austin Public Library, Bulverde Public Library, Canyon Public Library, Fayette Heritage Museum and Fayette Public Library, Georgetown Public Library, and New Waverly Public Library.
In Texas, participant selection was based on the fiscal and political challenges facing the applicant libraries. The libraries selected for participation were chosen by a panel of five reviewers familiar with library issues from throughout the state. Applications for the project were mailed to the Texas Library System offices and publicity about the project was featured in the TSLAC Library Developments newsletter, and on the TSLAC library system discussion list.
As part of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission commitment to the project, the Library Development Division has arranged to bring Janet Welch, New York state librarian and Peter Pearson, executive director of the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, to the 1999 Texas Library Association Annual Conference to present a program on library advocacy.
The selected libraries will receive the following tools from Libraries for the Future:
Libraries selected for
participation in the project may use the services of the visiting LFF mentor
to serve their particular needs. For example, they may organize a training workshop,
brainstorming session, meeting with community leaders, or use the visit to kick
off a new library initiative. The selected libraries are planning their projects
for later
this year.
The reviewers determined that Bulverde Public Library in Comal County would benefit most from mentor services. Their library is a two-year old converted school portable building that they have outgrown. They have two part-time employees and are planning to start a Friend's group in the fall. The area population is growing as they become a "bedroom" community for San Antonio.
The next library was Fayette
Heritage Museum and Archives and Fayette
Public Library in LaGrange.
The building they currently occupy is in poor shape and the library board is
trying to find funding for a remodeling plan.
The New
Waverly Public Library in Walker County (near Huntsville) was the third
library selected. It is currently housed in City Hall and has outgrown its space.
They intend to build on a one-acre lot before the end
of 2000.
The fourth library selected
was Canyon Public Library in Randall County near Amarillo. Located in a tourist
area that is also a farming community, Canyon recently decided to build a new
building. Their City Council recently voted to build a new facility and finance
it with a capital gift campaign. Canyon hopes to raise one million for a new
library in 1999. Director Melissa Eder
believes support for the library
is at an all-time high. They have a strong friend's group and have received a
lot of good publicity about the prospect of a new library. They just completed
surveying their community and obtained names and addresses of people who want
to donate to the library or volunteer their time.
The final applicants, Austin Public Library and Georgetown Public Library, were the only applicants from larger communities. Both libraries are beginning building campaigns. Georgetown is interested in raising community awareness for a new building and Austin would like help in bringing together their various support groups so they can move forward with a capitol building campaign.
In the other participating states, projects are developing to meet individual needs. For example, in Pennsylvania, they have already hosted two train the trainers workshops while in North Dakota they have involved almost an entire town in building a support system to get all area libraries networked by the year 2000.
For further information in the Community Advocacy Project in Texas, contact Wendy Clark, special services consultant, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 512-936-2236 or,
For further information on Libraries for the Future, visit their web site or telephone them at 800-542-1918.
Wendy Clark is the special services consultant for the Library Development Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
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