CET Writes

Originally published December  17 , 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission As we shift our attention to information security and privacy policies, consider the following scenario where a well-intentioned community event exposed how easily gaps in data-handling practices can put patrons at risk. The Gotham Public Library—a fictional, small, rural library in Texas—partnered yet again with the Madame Selina Kyle Foundation; this time to host a free digital literacy workshop and asked participants to provide their name, home address, phone number, email address, and library card number using a shared Google Form created by a volunteer. In the days following the event, several attendees began receiving unsolicited emails from LexCorp and phone calls promoting Harvey Dent’s election campaign. One patron filed a complaint, stating the only place they had shared that information was with t...

Originally published December 10 , 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission As we turn an eye to technology use policies, let us return to the land of imagination and visit the Gotham Public Library, a small rural Texas library that recently upgraded its computer area with new public workstations, expanded Wi-Fi access, and a makerspace laptop cart funded through a community grant from the Madame Selina Kyle Foundation. Because the library had never adopted a formal technology use policy, Director Barbara Gordon, staffer Richard Grayson, and the library’s volunteers relied on informal practices and individual judgment to guide patron behavior. One afternoon, a patron began streaming loud video tutorials for making Smylex on a public computer and refused to use headphones, insisting there was no rule against it; later, another patron downloaded unlicensed batarang-making software onto a mak...

    Originally published October 24, 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission   Palacios Library  |  Palacios , TX At Palacios Library , leadership starts with listening. “Our success has been our availability for whatever is needed to keep our library afloat and be willing to help out our small town in any way we can,” says Head Librarian Vikijane Mosier. That spirit of responsiveness has guided the library’s work for decades whether meeting immediate needs or planning for the future. When local families faced language barriers that made homework time difficult, the library paired bilingual honor students with elementary kids who needed extra help in its after-school program. The program has been a win-win—supporting children and giving teens their first jobs. Furthermore, its impact has come full circle: one former student helper is now a library staff member an...

  Originally published October 17 , 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission   There’s something magical about dawn over the desert when hot air balloons drift serenely above the Rio Grande Valley with their neon colors glowing against the pale morning sky. That’s the same sense of wonder attendees experienced at the 2025 Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this high-desert city where adobe walls glow in the sunset and mountain peaks blush pink in the evening light, attendees discovered unexpected treasures. Keynotes lifted us as high as the Sandia Peak Tramway, encouraging a view of the big picture while holding tight to local roots. Sessions buzzed with the liveliness and variety of spice markets, and conversations with colleagues felt as vibrant as the balloons at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum—...

  Originally published September 09 , 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission Imagine that the Gotham Public Library, a small rural library in Texas, has recently received a request for help from its group of local homeschool families—the Arkham Angels—that is looking for appropriate young adult graphic novels for this year’s book club. In the past, the library had a brief, outdated collection development policy that didn’t explicitly outline how materials were selected. So, the staff often relied on ad hoc decisions which risked appearing inconsistent or even biased. But, Director Gordon recognizes that a collection development policy is more than just a set of rules about what books, media, and digital resources the library purchases. It’s a practical expression of the library’s mission that shows how the library’s values and goals are translated into day-to-day decisions about wha...

Originally published August 25 , 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission What started out as a sizeable donation of custom-built video games from the county’s STEM club was quickly joined by the late Mr. Nguyen’s golden age Superman comics and his daughter's childhood collection of rare Shojo manga—only to then be expanded by Ms. Gordon’s crafting overstock that was curated by the library’s teen advisory board with an eye toward establishing a cosplay makerspace. And now, having grown into something you’ve dubbed “The Fandom Zone,” these items have definitely imprisoned the community’s interest. After reading your thank you posts on social media, the local historical customers have begun reserving the meeting room nearest the collection where they can surreptitiously observe each new arrival as they plan their next event. And now that school has begun, Miss Harvey’s third grade class—who ...

Originally published August 18 , 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission   With Summer Library Program in the review mirror, you can practically hear the thrum of those yellow limousines, taste the cafeteria‘s food service delights, and smell the essential oils of fresh pencil shavings mingling with melted crayons. And now that it’s back to school season, learning and reflection are top of mind. As the young summer patrons leave your stacks and seats for their campus libraries, here's some arithmetic for YOU. From 561 invitations, 517 libraries completed the Texas Public Libraries Annual Report for local fiscal year 2024. Of those, 95% met the minimum standards for accreditation. They will be accredited for State fiscal year 2026, starting September 1. Originally designed specifically for directors of small public libraries-those serving a population of 25,000 or less, SLM offered...

  Originally published July 23, 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission   Although none were born into leadership, it is a truth universally acknowledged that some achieve it and some have it thrust upon them. With apologies to both Shakespeare and Austen, the path to library leadership can be as varied as the individuals who travel it. Directors and head librarians come to this work by many life journeys, not all of which provide a background in librarianship. But, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s (TSLAC) Small Library Management Training Program can help. Since its inception, TSLAC has supported the development of libraries across the state—large and small. One of its most consequential initiatives, the Small Library Management Training Program (SLM), was created in 1994 to support library workers in small communities without formal training in library scienc...