CET Writes

  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 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...

  Originally published April 21, 2025 Library Developments Blog   |   Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission   The spirit of transformation was alive and well at the 2025 Texas Library Association’s Annual Conference, themed “ Library Renaissance: Our Quest for Renewal .” Against a backdrop of evolving community needs and rapid change, library professionals from all sectors came together to reimagine the role of libraries in a shifting world. This powerful theme set the tone for a conference filled with fresh ideas, bold conversations, and inspiring visions for the future. From innovative programming and service models to rethinking safety, communicating the library’s value, and the significance of our networks, attendees explored what it truly means to lead a library renaissance. Here’s a look back at the sessions and sparks of inspiration that made this gathering one to remember from the lens of library manageme...

  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 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 librove...

  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 dec...

  After having attended the Texas Library Association's TALL Texan Leadership Institute , another library worker reached out to me with questions about my experience. Below are the answers that I provided in response. *** Why did you apply to Tall Texans?  Originally, I heard about TALL Texans as a new school librarian - within my first five years - and at the time it was described to me as an opportunity to gain meaningful leadership training in the field of librarianship that was specific to the Texas Library ecosystem. Thus, it was something that I'd aspired to for quite awhile. However, as time went on I made my way toward leadership without having attended the institute and began to second guess the value of the investment. However, when I mentioned to my supervisor that I was mildly interested in attending, she strongly encouraged me to apply - stating that not only would the library pay for my tuition but that she believed I would particularly benefit from the cont...

  Originally published April 5, 2023 Library Developments Blog |  Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission ***** 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… after teaching a core, tested subject for fifteen years, I was just beginning to read young adult literature regularly...