Volume 37 No. 3 | August 2018
TSLAC Sunset Staff Report Released
The Sunset Commission staff issued its report on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). The report is available online. The Staff Report lists four primary issues, including finding that the State has a continuing need for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and recommending its continuance for another 12 years. Also, the Staff Report recommends no organizational changes. The Sunset Commission will hear these findings as well as public testimony and a formal response from the agency at a hearing on August 30. TLA will submit comments and provide testimony at the hearing.  Read more 
OER Grants and Repository Feasibility Study
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) released the call for applications for the OER grant program . Grants are open to faculty at Texas public institutions and up to 20 grants will be awarded – up to $5,000 for a single course, or up to $10,000 for multiple courses. The inquiry deadline is August 10 and the application deadline is August 20. Awards will be announced early October.  

The statewide OER repository feasibility study  was approved by the THECB at their July 26 meeting. The report recommends developing a statewide portal through which existing available OER can be accessed, leveraging existing resources to accomplish this, and providing sufficient resources such as training and professional development on effective use of the portal, how to incorporate OER into a course; etc.  
TLA News
Mark Your Calendars! TLA District Meetings
As of August 6, all TLA districts have scheduled their fall meetings. These annual meetings are an opportunity for local librarians, para-professionals and trustees from all types of libraries to meet, network and collaborate on future projects and programs. Save the Date.
  • District 1 (combining with District 2 and District 9) | September 15 | Lubbock
  • District 3 | October 8 | Round Rock
  • District 4 | November 2 | Laredo
  • District 5 | October 15 | Dallas
  • District 6 | November 10 | El Paso
  • District 7 | October 5 | Lewisville
  • District 8 | October 20 | Houston
  • District 10 | October 27 | San Antonio
Thank you TLA Donors!
As a 501(c)(3) education non-profit, the Texas Library Association relies on the generosity of library supporters to enable us to carry out our mission. Thank you to all of the individuals, organizations, and foundations that donated this past fiscal year (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018)! Read more  
New Staff and New Roles at TLA
Over the past two months, the Texas Library Association (TLA) welcomed three new team members, and announced new roles for three current team members. Miranda Dickson is our new graphics design/web associate, Robin Morris is the new conference and events planner, and Cassandra Sanchez-Barrera is the new marketing specialist. Kelly Dibbens is our new membership and special services coordinator, Paul Montoya is the new registration coordinator, and Ted Wanner was promoted to director of education and member engagement. Read more
Transforming Libraries into Community Anchors in Rural Texas
Funded by a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Laura Bush 21 st Century Librarians program, in collaboration with the Texas Library Association, the Transforming Libraries into Community Anchors in Rural Texas (TLCART) program at Texas Woman’s University provides scholarships for six semesters and a travel stipend leading to the MLS degree with a specialty in community informatics. Learn more  
Get Involved in TLA
Dedicated TLA volunteers’ hard work and skill keep the association moving forward. We need your talents and knowledge to ensure that TLA continues to provide the best opportunities for library professionals in Texas. TLA President-elect Cecilia Barham will begin working on appointments to TLA committees this fall. If you are interested in getting involved please complete this online interest form and she will contact you with more information.
Corporate Members
We thank our  corporate members for their investment in TLA and Texas libraries.
Continuing Education
All webinars are FREE to TLA members.
Visit the TLA Continuing Education page for more information. 
August 15 | 1-2pm 
M ost Unique Services in Today’s Libraries
(Part of the series A-Z: Essential Training for Your Library Team)  
Hear best practices associated with new and unusual services in libraries and why your institution might consider these additions. Participants are encouraged to share their library's special services prior to the webinar.  REGISTER

September 12 | 1-2pm 
(Part of the series A-Z: Essential Training for Your Library Team) 
Cataloging and Technical Services Roles and Responsibilities
Explore these systems, from purchasing and preparation to Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress classification. Learn the unique organizational schematics for local needs such as genealogy, media, government documents, and realia. REGISTER

September 21
Library Instruction Round Table Summit
$35 for TLA members, $45 for nonmembers
Tarleton State University – Fort Worth Center
The annual LIRT Summit provides opportunities for learning and discussion, from the keynote by Pamela Pfeiffer on Confronting Fake News to breakout sessions on spontaneous instruction, High School/College Collaboration, Metaliteracy, and much more. More information. REGISTER
Library News
Generous Gift to Library Begins a New Chapter
The award-winning Bulverde/Spring Branch Library is turning the page to a new chapter. In response to a generous gift from the Mammen Family Foundation to the Library’s Capital Campaign, the Bulverde Area Rural Library District’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously at their May meeting to rename the library the Mammen Family Public Library.

Southwest Houston To Get New Library
The Houston City Council voted to purchase 2.5 acres of land on which to build a new library to serve the southwestern section of the city. The new, full-service library would replace the 56-year-old Meyer Neighborhood Library which was closed during Hurricane Harvey and not reopened, and the 10-year-old Frank Express Library which rents space in an older office building.
Names in the News
  • Lanee Dunlap, is the new library director at Texas A&M Commerce
  • Lisa Loranc became the director of the Brazoria County Library System in June.
  • Tracey Mendoza, formerly with Northeast Lakeview College, is now dean of libraries at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.   
  • Lori Purvis, former director of the Brazoria County Library System, left that position in May.
Deceased
  • Lloyd Bockstrock, former librarian in the Genealogy Department at Dallas Public Library, passed away in May.
  • Margaret “Peggy” Olsson, former reference librarian at the University of Texas – Dallas, passed away in May.
TLA 2019 Conference Dates are Monday - Thursday
Correction: In the Texas Library Journal summer issue, the Van Dusen-Kaiser-Halley Scholarship was incorrectly listed as Van Dusen-Tobin-Kaiser Scholarship on page 68. We apologize for the mistake.
Texas Library Association
3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, Texas 78746-6763
Phone: 512-328-1518 | Fax: 512-328-8852