Joint TSLAC/TLA Task Force on 
Implementation of the Public Library Study
(FULL REPORT doc)

By Julie Todaro

Any research process or study designed to look at support for public libraries ­ whether locally,
statewide or nationally - is an enormous challenge. The variety of issues, the rapidly changing political environment, the possible challenges to or critical assessments of sacred cowsit's a no-win situation for anyone who undertakes the task. The charge to assess current support models for Texas public libraries has been a daunting and challenging process to say the very least. While the work of the Task Force is not yet over (and won't be at press time), I would like to review the Task Force's work and then quickly outline the scope of the final report, along with enumerating a brief list of the final activities involved in concluding the Task Force's work.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Task Force members for "stepping up to the plate" and working with me (and continuing to do so). Their contribution to the improvement of public library services in the state has been enormous. The list of members can be found on the TSLAC website; in addition, a wide variety of subcommittees were formed to assist in the process, and they were extremely important to the process as well.

What was the charge to the group?

• To review and evaluate recommendations in the study.
• To recommend to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission which study recommendations should be implemented, including a list of priorities for implementation, a feasible timeline, and resources required.
• To identify and report to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the Texas Library Association Executive Board and Legislative Committee any legislative issues related to public library development for the 2005 Legislative Session.

What is the status of the project?

The status of the project seems to be "never-ending"; but, actually, we are near the end. The Public Library Study Task Force, or the PLS as we call ourselves, finished and distributed a draft document for discussion at the TLA annual conference. (See http://castor.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/plsimp/index.html for all documents and information related to the Task Force.) In addition, all committee members received digital copies of the sections and were encouraged to distribute to their constituencies. The draft document consisted of 15 different sections, each designed to review and evaluate one of the 15 recommendations in A Study of Public Library Development in Texas by Ethel Himmel and Bill Wilson.

Each section was organized to provide data including 1) general reactions to a recommendation from the wide variety of focus groups designed to elicit response to the Study, 2) recommendations on whether elements of recommendations should be implemented, 3) priorities for implementation, 4) timeline comments, and 5) suggestions for resources. In addition to these elements, recommendations back to Texas State Library and Archives Commission, the Texas Library Association Executive Board, and the TLA Legislative Committee were made on any legislative issues related to public library development for the 2005 Legislative Session.

Over 150 people attended the PLS draft discussion and each received a print copy of the full draft so that they could comment on any element of the PLS work. This meeting provided the committee with an excellent list of suggestions that included:

• preparing an introduction to the PLS study response that gives a more global direction to the recommendations
• assessing the recommendations and creating additional timelines for when they might be approached by the players (TSLAC, TLA, others)
• grouping the recommendations by similar issues and determining if an introductory paragraph for the general topic can be written (collapse recommendations as appropriate)
• attempting to prioritize the recommendations as to importance (related to timeline)
• clarifying what the recommendation statements mean in the database recommendation
• clarifying the use of the 501(c)(3) organization recommendation comments as to what type of 501(c)(3) is really recommended as the original recommendations used the 501(c)(3) term incorrectly

The PLS is currently identifying the recommendations that need no changes and will post those recommendations to email distribution lists and on the TSLAC website. In response to issues raised during the conference public meeting, the PLS formed into small groups that would writeand, where appropriate, rewritesome of the general text. These revisions will be posted to the group's distribution list and the document will be posted to the TSLAC website for comments. The final report will be available by September 1, 2004. 

Julie Todaro is dean of library services at Austin Community College.