CET Writes

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...

  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 aler...

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 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 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 to her questions. *** 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 benefi...

  Originally published February 6, 2023 Library Developments Blog |  Library Development and Networking Division Texas State Library and Archives Commission ***** As the new year has sprung right into action, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is here to give you a boost by connecting you to our youth services. Here are the tools that can help you stay one step ahead! Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Newsletter In this monthly newsletter, CSLP offers the latest news and information about the current program. Family Place Library Listserv Family Place Libraries ™ uses this private list to provide updates about the national program.  Texas Family Place Library Project  grantees should be able to update their contact information via their library’s member login. Please contact us if you need help connecting with the national organizers. Texas Summer Library Program Newsletter TSLAC uses the  Texas Summer Library Newsletter...