Gleniece A. Robinson,
President

As i continue my focus on building the House of Inclusiveness, I would like to highlight an important group of building block-- TLA districts. Whether we work to improve library services in our districts or turn our attention to profession-wide issues such as diversity, we as librarians are strengthened by our mutual support and collaboration. Inclusiveness is a principle that applies to the full range of our duties-- from our local responsibilities to our broadest professional missions. Inclusiveness, then, as an ideal and as a practical guide, provides a perfect context for this column on TLA districts by Janis Test, for this Journal issue on diversity, and for our Annual Conference 2000.

Thank you for your support and participation in building the House of Inclusiveness. These months have been-- and will continue to be-- an extraordinary time.

District Rooms in the House of Inclusiveness

By Janis Test

As we approach Annual Conference 2000, hundreds of TLA "carpenters" are working to help build Gleniece A. Robinson's House of Inclusiveness. Some of the busiest "subcontractors" are in districts across the state. This past fall, district meeting planners worked hard assembling a broad array of tools that appealed to all types of librarians, lay people, friends and trustees, and board members. Here is a look at how these workers combined bricks and mortar, bolts and nails.

In District 1, attendees met at the Abilene Public Library and the Grace Cultural Center. Participants heard about different collections and opportunities for outreach in their libraries and communities. The meeting also honored federal, state, and local lawmakers supportive of libraries.

District 2 sessions at the Deaf Smith County Library stressed the theme "Building Partnerships." Speakers focused on different types of libraries and users populations, while stressing how different goals can be met without dividing the library community. As attendee Martha Russell commented, "It was good to emphasize how we can help each other, rather than how we can compete."

Members of District 3 gathered in Waco, attracting librarians from all across central Texas. Attendees toured the Armstrong Browning Library on the Baylor University Campus and held diverse sessions at the Nell Pape Garden Center.

District 4 planners offered programs on creating web sites, collections development, and outreach through literacy programs. The James C. Jernigan Library at Texas A&M University at Kingsville hosted south Texas librarians and opened the South Texas Archives to interested attendees.

In Districts 5 and 6, attendees learned about increasing collaboration. Lay attendees learned about the benefits of TLA membership to all friends of libraries. Librarians had the opportunity to hear programs on improving services to Hispanic and African American patrons. District 6 programs were held in the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez where librarians from Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico met.

North Texas members in District 7 were urged to bring library trustees, board members, friends, administrators, and teachers to the annual meeting. Sessions on programming for special audiences, literacy outreach, building bilingual collections, and cooperation drew great interest from members and guests alike.

District 8 members gathered at Memorial High School for a full day of meetings. A total of 488 librarians participated in programs focusing on "Year 2000 Libraries: Ready for the Millennium."

District 9 held its annual meeting in the International Cultural Center at Texas Tech University. Attendees toured the Center, and staff members gave tips on programs and resources available to libraries and students.

In San Antonio, over 90 librarians attended the District 10 annual meeting at the Northside Activity Center. Sessions on grant writing, techno-stress, and storytelling were among the highlights of the day.

Each district plans and builds its room in the House of Inclusiveness a little differently. Thanks to Gleniece Robinson's message this year, alliances, cooperatives, coalitions, and teams are being forged to the benefit of all Texas.

Janis Test is a reference librarian at Abilene Public Library.