CET Writes

  Originally published March 18, 2024 Texas Library Association Website Christina E. Taylor Library Management Consultant T exas State Library and Archives Commission 1. What inspired you to become a librarian? My mother was a public educator for nearly 40 years, and midway through her tenure, she was struggling with burnout. While I was preparing to follow in her footsteps, I had the privilege of watching her reinvent herself. She earned her MLS from Texas Women’s University, shifted the trajectory of her career toward school librarianship, and was able to reclaim the joy in being an educator that she’d lost along the way. She found a way to continue doing the work she loved, minimize what was wearing away at her, and maximize what fed her passion. Seeing that, I made a promise to myself to monitor my own burnout. And if there ever came a time when I needed an exit strategy, then I KNEW that I’d had at least one successful example modeled for me. Fifteen years later, I decided to ...

Originally published February 12, 2025 Library Developments Blog    Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission   As the new year has well and truly begun, many people reflect on the past, seeking to understand where they come from, who their ancestors were, and how their family's history shaped their present. One of the best ways to begin exploring their roots is to visit their local library. Frequently, small rural libraries serve as repositories of local history. But, what about if a patron’s family has moved throughout various regions of the state? For a more expansive approach, utilizing the rich genealogy resources available at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) can provide a bigger picture. Whether they’re a seasoned researcher or just beginning their journey into family history, TSLAC offers a variety of tools to help patrons uncover the stories of their ancestors. A Treasure Trove of Records Th...

  Originally published October 25, 2024 Library Developments Blog  |  Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission Waiting outside Gate 21 where the scent of pizza from the nearby Eastside Pies booth filled the air, I excitedly chatted about the transitional weather with my new teammate – to quote James Hurst “summer was dead but autumn had not yet been born” – the logistics of traveling for work, and our preparedness to attend the 2024 Association for Small and Rural Libraries (ARSL) conference . Neither of us truly knew what to expect, but we had been told that ARSL is THE conference for rural and small libraries, with conference organizers who not only understand the constraints of these libraries but also the unique opportunities for their being chrysalises of change. The conference theme “Libraries are (r)Evolutionary” proclaimed the event aimed to provide an opportunity for exploring the transformative power of rural and sm...

  Originally published October 7, 2024 Library Developments Blog  |  Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission The end of September heralded the final bow for my visits to small public libraries in Central Texas, tours of their spaces, and chats about how the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) can best support library leadership. For this last round, Library Digital Opportunity Program Coordinator Henry Stokes accompanied me to Schulenburg Public Library, Fayette Public Library, and Smithville Public Library. Schulenburg Public Library Surrounded by many open fields within Fayette County where you can easily spot cattle and wildflowers, the city of Schulenburg is the perfect stopping point during that Jumpin’ Jive from Houston to San Antonio on I-10 or whenever you travel State Highway 77. The city is not only known for its German culture, homemade kolaches, fresh pecans, and Shorthorns but is also home to a B...

  Originally published September 3, 2024 Library Developments Blog  |  Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission As if spurred by the August heat, the tempo picked up for the second number—a dizzying duo of days in which I visited small public libraries, toured their spaces, and chatted with their leadership about how the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) could best support them. Workforce Development Consultant Maria Freed stepped up with me for a turn along the edge of the Edwards Plateau, with visits to Hondo Public Library, Leon Valley Public Library, Lakehills Area Library, and Patrick Heath Public Library. Day 1 Hondo Public Library The seat of Medina County, Hondo is located on US 90 West—just a 40-mile sashay west of the Alamo, within the Eagle Pass-Laredo-San Antonio triangle. Don’t go too fast, though, as the landmark sign reading “This is God’s Country, Please Don’t Drive Through It Like Hell” enco...

Originally published August 1, 2024 Library Developments Blog |  Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission In July, I kicked off the first in a series of day-long turns around clusters of small public libraries to tour their spaces and chat about how the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) can best support their leadership. This round, the fancy feet of Continuing Education and Consulting Team Manager Katherine Adelberg accompanied me as we spun through New Braunfels Public Library, Seguin Public Library, and Martindale Community Library. New Braunfels Public Library New Braunfels is perched on the brink of the Hill Country, right between San Antonio and Austin on I-35. Spanning Comal and Guadalupe counties with its 105,000 residents, it’s not only one of the fastest-growing cities, but is also regarded as one of the best 50 places to live in the United States. Established in 1845, New Braunfels is known for its German...