CET Writes

  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” encourages you to

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 and

  Originally published July 17, 2024 Library Developments Blog | Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission The Library Development and Networking Division is your partner in serving the community by connecting you to our library management services. Here are the tools that can help you stay one step ahead! Library Management Services Website – This suite of webpages is the online home for evergreen information about our library management services including resources for new directors, small library management, and library governance. Library Management Services Updates – In this monthly post on our Library Developments blog , we provide a round up of upcoming opportunities and ongoing tools pertaining to library management that have come to our attention. Although you can subscribe to the entire blog, there’s no easy way to subscribe to these posts exclusively. Alternatively, you can bookmark the link above and create a Google alert t

Originally published August 1, 2024 Library Developments Blog | Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission   As I watch the sun set from the train’s window seat and the gently rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country are replaced by the flatter terrain of the Prairie and Lakes Region, I mentally inventory my utility belt in preparation for the adventure ahead—serving as a moderator for the Get Graphic track at the 2024 North Texas Teen Book Festival (NTTBF). NTTBF was founded in 2012, and after more than two years of preparation, the inaugural event was hosted in the spring of 2015. Free to the public, the two-day festival is comprised of a day of professional development for educators and a teen book festival with dedicated programming for middle grade readers. Not only does this feat of derring-do connect its reading community by adding dimension to their reading experience, but it’s also a model of collaboration across the libroverse—

Originally published July 9, 2024 Library Developments Blog | Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission ***** These freshly remodeled Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) Texas Public Library Management webpages are your management services internet home, organized with a place for everything—and now everything is in its place! Welcome! TSLAC’s Library Development and Networking Division ensures access to information and resources Texas public library directors and managers need to make their libraries work for their communities. These tools connect libraries to our management services and help them stay one step ahead! More... New Director Resources Congratulations you on your new role! We are your partner in this, providing accreditation and grant opportunities, plus consulting and training services. More... Small Library Management Since 1994, the Small Library Management training program provides library skills educatio

  Originally published May 20, 2024 Library Developments Blog | Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission ***** Round Rock, the “Sports Capital of Texas,” is located just fifteen miles north of Austin. In addition to a full line-up of exceptional sports facilities, the city champions specialty retail shopping, delicious restaurants, outdoor adventures, and the Round Rock Public Library System (RRPL). Established in 1962, RRPL is a gateway to the community that knocks it out of the park with a variety of award-winning programs and services including a certified Family Place Library program. RRPL, in its new home field in downtown Round Rock, hosted the 2024 Texas Family Place Libraries™ Project Training Institute, sponsored by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) and Family Place Libraries ™ . Thirty-one library workers from across the state took the field for spring training to learn the signals, see what’s on deck, a