ln the Spotlight: October 2025

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 and preparing for leadership upon her mentor’s retirement.

That same adaptability keeps the long-running “Science Rocks” program fresh after 30 years, evolving from simple science lessons into a mix of hands-on learning, art, and community partnerships. No matter the format, Palacios Library continues to meet people where they are—growing right alongside the community it serves.

***

Spotlight on Strong Library Management!

Is your library finding smart, creative, or efficient ways to manage programs, services, or operations? We want to hear about it! Whether it’s a new approach, a refined process, or a management strategy that just works for your community, your story not only matters but also could inspire others. Use our quick form to tell us how your team is making an impact, and upload a few photos that you have permission to share.

Don’t be shy—share your management success today!

Comments

Notes From the Field: Waltz Across Texas, First Dance

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...

Growing Library Leaders With Google Education Trainer Certification

At the Texas Association of School Library Administrators (TASLA) Workshop on June 14, 2016, I was part of a five-part panel presentation that focused on how campus librarians can become library leaders even though they are not library administrators. This presentation was later featured on TASL Talk s as a series titled “Growing Library Leaders.” Become a Certified Google Education Trainer grew out of my portion of the presentation and was originally published September 8, 2016. On April 10, 2018, it was re-posted on the Round Rock Independent School District's Teaching & Learning Blog Librarians have always been at the forefront of information technology, even if we haven’t always had that reputation. Be it in tablets, scrolls, codices, microforms, or databases, we’ve always gone where the information is in order to find answers. Unfortunately, as mere access to information has taken center stage, school libraries run the risk of becoming a Starbucks-without-the-cof...

My path to becoming a “Comics Librarian” and why you should join YART!

As a freshly-minted librarian, I was hired to serve at THE high school bearing my district’s name alongside an amazingly zany, veteran librarian who knew the current collection inside and out as she’d been the one to revitalize it with bond money just prior to my arrival. To say that I was intimidated about what I could possibly have to contribute is more than an understatement. So when the moment of truth arrived and I was handed a “small” purchase order to get my feet wet, I. Was. Stymied! Her fingerprints were all throughout that collection, and what she didn’t read our assistant did . How would I ever fit into this team?! What could I possibly contribute?! To be honest, I was just beginning to read YA lit regularly. Luckily, near the end of grad school, I’d discovered comics and graphic novels. My then-language-arts-teacher heart fell in love with graphic storytelling, the ways that it attracts readers, and its potential to support literacy efforts. Unluckily, I didn’t know much ab...

CET Writes

Search This Blog