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New Library Commissioners Appointed
Tenured Commissioners Honored

Governor George W. Bush announced on April 14, 2000 the appointment of two individuals to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Both will serve terms ending September 28, 2005. The Commission adopts all policies, rules, and regulations to aid and develop cooperation among libraries; collects and classifies materials relating to the history
of Texas; and encourages historical work and research.

Chris A. Brisack of Edinburg is a partner in the law firm of Norquest & Brisack, LLP in McAllen. He is also affiliated with the Rodriguez, Colvin & Chaney, LLP law firm and is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Hidalgo County Bar Association.
A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Brisack earned his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Elizabeth Ann Sanders of Arlington is a senior systems analyst at Texas Utilities, where she has been employed since 1980. A licensed accountant, Sanders is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and is active in civic affairs. A graduate of Texas A&M UniversityCommerce, she is a member and past treasurer of the Arlington Public Library Foundation Board.

The library community gathered to honor retired Texas State Library and Archives Commissioners Patrick Heath of Boerne and Marvin Rich of Houston. During a reception held at the Austin History Center, the former commissioners received the praise of their colleagues and were presented with resolutions of thanks from the Texas Library Association on behalf of all of the library community. The commission terms of Mayor Heath and Mr. Rich expired in April. Both former commissioners stated their continued commitment to serve the library community. And, as Executive Director Pat Smith had commented earlier in the spring, "Their move off of the Commission will free them up to serve in other capacities. Rest assured: They will only be making a lateral move!"

Commission Gives Initial Approval for Direct Aid to Public Libraries

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission heard testimony from TLA members concerning direct state aid for public libraries. During their May 15 meeting, the Commission gave a preliminary approval to include several exceptional items, including the direct state aid package, on the draft of the TSLAC biennial budget.

The direct state aid package for public libraries is a $40 million dollar ($20 million/each year of the biennium) request from the legislature. The package is based on an allocation of 25% (of the $20 million per year) towards a base rate for all public libraries meeting minimum requirements for System membership. The remaining 75% will be allocated based on a match of local expenditures. The direct aid package would grant approximately $10,000 each to public libraries in Texas plus an additional amount based on local funding.

The Commission's action last month gave the State Library permission to finalize plans for exceptional requests and to present them formally on the final budget. The Commission will take the official vote on the TSLAC budget and exceptional items during the July 24^th Commission meeting. At that time, the Commission will decide whether the exceptional items will be sent forward to the legislature for consideration.

National Legislative Day

Nineteen TLA members joined hundreds of other librarians from across the country in this year's annual National Legislative Day, which was held on May 2. The ALA event brings together library advocates and U.S. congressmen in a discussion of libraries and the specific needs of the library community vis a vis current legislation.

The Texas group met with federal elected officials representing every region of Texas. Both Senators Gramm and Hutchison spoke with TLA members, including Peggy Rudd, Robert Martin, and Patrick Heath.
The Texas delegation of U.S. representatives and members of their staffs spoke with TLA members about funding for libraries and library materials through such appropriations measures as LSTA funding and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization. The library community asked that LSTA be funded at the full amount
of $173 million set forth in the President's budget and that both ESEA Title III and VI be funded at adequate levels.

The library legislative platform also included continuing funding for the Government Printing Office (particularly the Federal Depository Library Program) and the Copyright Office at the Library of Congress (at the time of publication, both measures are up for consideration). Librarians further discussed the importance of access to government information and the importance of letting local communities make decisions about Internet access.

National Legislative Day gives the American library community the opportunity to speak with a united voice and to demonstrate that we care and we watch what our federal elected officials support. Even more important than participating in the formal events of National Legislative Day, however, librarians from every community can play a critical role in advocating for libraries. One comment all librarians heard during legislative day was the importance for all librarians and library supporters to communicate with legislators.

For additional information on national library legislation or for details on contacting your legislators, visit the ALA webpage at http://www.ala.org or contact the TLA office at 800/580-2852.

National Legislative Day for the Texas group was organized by Ruth Semrau and Scherel Carver. Other TLA members included Mary Alford, Pamela Bonnell, Lisa Loranc, Cyd Sheffy, Dale Fleeger, Fred Carey, Larry Hardesty, Rhoda Goldberg, Meredith McMannis, Gloria Meraz, Pat Smith, Grace Stroud, and Rebecca Walls.

Dells Open First Austin Wired for Youth Center

Michael and Susan Dell officially opened the first of Austin Public Library's Wired for Youth Centers during a ceremony held at the Oak Springs Branch on May 17.
The Youth Centers will make computers with Internet access available for use by Austin youths.

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation contributed $500,000 that was matched by the City of Austin and the Austin Public Library Foundation to fund the centers. "We're wired and ready," Mayor Kirk Watson proclaimed. "Austin is committed to closing the digital divide and providing our youth with the needed skills for 21^st century jobs and 21^st century living."

The centers will offer free classes on a range of topics including how to find information on the Internet or how to develop a Web page. The centers will make available free email accounts; web links to technology experts, homework help, and youth-oriented fund sites; and specially-trained librarians ready to help.

"The children of Austin need easy access to the tools necessary for success in our fast-changing world," Mrs. Dell said. "Computer training and Internet skills are fundamental to their futures and therefore fundamental to the future of our community. We are proud to be a part of such an important initiative."

10^th Annual Monterrey Book Fair

The 10^th Annual Monterrey International Book Fair (MIBF) is once again offering travel stipends to qualified Texas librarians. These stipends include three nights free stay in Monterrey, free admission to the Fair, a ticket to the librarians' welcome luncheon, and a $100 stipend to help cover travel expenses. The package will be offered for travel from October 6 through 9, 2000.

The MIBF is one of the three largest book fairs in Mexico and gives librarians the opportunity to access over 70,000 titles and special format materials in Spanish from throughout Latin America. The Book Fair provides librarians a chance to purchase quality Spanish-language materials, including children's and young adult books, reference products, university publications, science and technology materials, popular titles, and literary criticism. To facilitate purchasing, the Book Fair offers a special book jobber service for librarians.

The Fair runs from October 7-15, 2000. For information regarding travel stipends: http://www.txla.org/xtra/montfair/monterrey.html For general information regarding the Book Fair: http://fil.mty.itesm.mx

Annual Assembly

The TLA Annual Assembly will be held Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30 at the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake in Austin. During this weekend event, the officers of all TLA units and committees will meet to discuss the business of the Association, approve the FY 2000-01 operating budget, and plan for next year's annual conference. All meetings are open, and guests and TLA members who are not officers are welcome to attend.

In addition to the array of meetings and work sessions, three evening programs have been designed to inform and stimulate attendees during Annual Assembly.

On Thursday, July 27 following the TexShare Advisory Board meeting, the Legislative Committee will host a strategy session on UCITA (the Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act), an issue affecting all libraries and that most likely will be considered by the Texas Legislature in 2001. Co-chairing TLA's new task force on UCITA is Robert S. Martin, a faculty member with the TWU School of Library Studies, and library consultant Louella V. Wetherbee.

On Friday, July 28, State Librarian Peggy Rudd will be joined by Gloria McClanahan and Mary Lankford of the Texas Education Agency to discuss the impact on library development of statewide programs like TexShare and the Texas Library Connection. Sponsored by the Legislative Committee, this session will preview TLA's 2001 legislative requests.

President Julie Todaro is planning a first for TLA a diversity summit scheduled for Saturday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. The summit will focus on what actions TLA needs to take to help TLA and all libraries recruit for a more diverse workforce.

Annual Assembly also offers members a chance to enjoy Austin's family-style entertainment in the summertime. For more information, check the TLA website at www.txla.org or call the TLA Office at 800/580-2852.

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