Texas State Library and Archives Commission Meeting
Libraries and Talking Book Committee
July 11, 2024
Minutes

OPENING ITEMS

1.    Welcome and Introductions

Committee Chair Darryl Tocker called the meeting to order on July 11, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. and stated that the agenda was posted with the Secretary of State on June 25, 2024.

2.    Roll Call for Members and Establishment of a Quorum

Commissioner Tocker took a roll call of committee members and established that a quorum was present. Commissioners Arthur Mann and Tocker were in attendance. Commissioner Bradley Tegeler was not in attendance.  Commissioner Tocker noted that Commission Chair Martha Wong was also present, though she and any other commissioners not on the committee who joined the meeting would attend only for information-gathering purposes and would not be voting on any action item of the committee, nor would any action of the commission be taken.

3.    Approval of Minutes of the March 10, 2023, Libraries and Talking Books Committee Meeting

Commissioner Tocker moved to accept the Libraries and Talking Books Committee meeting minutes for March 10, 2023. Commissioner Mann seconded the motion. All committee members present voted in favor, and the minutes were approved.

4.    Public Comment

No public comments were received.

BRIEFINGS AND ACTION ITEMS

5.    Update on Initiatives from the Library Development and Networking Division

b.    LDN programs and services. Sarah Karnes gave an overview of the Library Development and Networking (LDN) division’s operations, current projects, and future developments.

•    LDN received funding from the U.S. Treasury for broadband infrastructure projects. The agency is working on the assessment phase of its Wi-Fi grants, which focuses on library infrastructure and facility improvement in relation to broadband infrastructure, and is currently reviewing solicitation responses from vendors to conduct tech assessments.   
•    The agency provided a training on digital opportunities.  
•    LDN conducted several digital conversation workshops co-hosted with the Texas Library Association, which were designed to engage regional civic leaders and focus on the role of libraries in public and digital navigation programs.  These workshops were conducted around the state.
•    The agency is also planning to continue offering opportunities for conversations between library personnel, civic leaders, and their communities.
•    As the Commission had earlier approved contracting for the Texas eRead program, LDN is currently in the process of migrating libraries to the new system.  The transition should be completed by October 2024. The new system allows better control for what content TSLAC can provide for libraries and libraries to offer their communities.
•    LDN is now finalizing the Texas Public Libraries Annual Report.  A total of 515 libraries submitted reports this year.  Of that number, five libraries appealed their loss of accreditation, and these appeals were granted. When reports are finalized at the end of July, the agency anticipates 497 to be granted accreditation.
•    As of June 30, all libraries have migrated to and are now operating in the new Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system approved by the Commission earlier this year.  The agency is working to resolve issues that arise, , and staff have provided workshops and trainings to help libraries set up and become familiar with the new system.
•    LDN completed a speed test of internet connectivity for public libraries in March.  A dashboard with the speed test data is available on the TSLAC library website.
•    The agency has filled in the position of Data Project Coordinator since the last meeting. The position of Digital Literacy Technology Coordinator is still open.

a.    Revisions to public library accreditation standards. Sarah Karnes noted that within the past year, the Library Development and Networking (LDN) division has been reviewing the minimum criteria standards for public library accreditation and making recommendations for changes.  LDN reviewed proposed updates with the Library Systems Act Advisory Board at two of the group’s meetings.  Additionally, the agency has held several virtual meetings and discussion groups in May, in which close to 400 librarians attended at least one session, to receive feedback from the field on concerns or issues about these standards.

Accreditation standards go under review every 10 years, with the last major revisions having taken place in 2014. All administrative rules must also go through a review process every four years determine whether the rules need to exist.

Ms. Karnes then led a detailed review of changes to the criteria for minimum standards for public library accreditation. Of note, the recommended changes include, among others:
•    updated language for clarification and use of common terminology in the field;
•    a new section that gives context as to why these rules exist; 
•    a new section with definitions of common terms used throughout the rules;
•    new language that defines what library services are for and what can/cannot be charged to residents and/or nonresidents; and
•    added sections that define conditional accreditation of a library, which is a temporary accreditation status; loss of accreditation; and appeal of accreditation, including what steps libraries may take to make in appeal.  

This led to discussions on the clarity of language and what additional changes may be considered and the reasoning behind some of the changes were made.  Sarah Swanson agreed to review these sections for clarity, especially regarding submission of annual accreditation reports.

Responding to a question posed by Commissioner Mann, Ms. Karnes noted that there has not been pushback from librarians on the recommended changes.  The minimum requirements are not intended to remove any currently accredited library. Additionally, the agency is now able to increase the minimum requirements beyond the base level has been established by previous standards and align requirements with current operational conditions. For example, current minimum criteria stipulate that at least 1% of a library’s collection be published within the last five years.  Then recommended changes would increase that target to 5%.

Commissioner Tocker asked if there should be a minimum requirement for libraries to provide digital content and if this were feasible.  Ms. Karnes noted that the state currently offers e-Read to all small public libraries, but other digital content offered by the agency requires accreditation first.  After further discussion, minimum requirements for digital content may be considered for a later accreditation standards review.

The proposal of these rules is planned for the TSLAC Commission Meeting scheduled November 1, 2024.  Should the recommended changes be approved by the Commission, the proposed rules would be published in the Texas Register for public comment and then be presented at a full commission meeting for adoption.  The agency hopes to adopt the proposed rules next year.

This item was informational only, and no action was taken.

6.    Update on the Talking Book Program

a.    Programs and divisional activities. Ann Minner gave an overview of operations, projects, programs, and activities of the Talking Book Program (TBP) division of TSLAC as well as statistics of program participation and operational activity from the past year.  Of note, the Talking Book Program has launched a new podcast available on the TSLAC website, offers a new Surprise Book of the Month program, and collaborated with the Austin Public Library to introduce the first accessible StoryWalk at Windsor Park Library that includes braille overlays.

Ms. Minner also highlighted volunteer activity at the agency.  TBP currently has 80 volunteers at the recording studio and has accumulated over 32,000 volunteer hours of creating audio recordings. The TBP studio has provided over 2,000 books to the National Library Service’s Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) program. Texas is the top contributor to the BARD program.

Since the last meeting, the agency has hired an Interlibrary Loan Librarian and a Manager of Reader Services. The agency has also hired a new Digital Literacy Trainer who will be starting this month.  For the new fiscal year, the agency will be posting job for a new Volunteer Coordinator.

b.    Update on iPad Project. Ms. Minner noted that the agency was awarded $8.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021. The Commission approved a list of projects, including grant funds for iPads for the eligible Talking Book Program patrons.

The agency experienced some unanticipated limitations related to the iPad project, including limitations on how non-state employees could interact with these devices. Given the desire to ensure easy use for TBP patrons, TSLAC investigated several device management systems, including working with Apple. These solutions did not afford cost efficiency for the state, ease of use for patrons, or administrative sustainability for TSLAC.

Given these circumstances, TSLAC determined that the best course of action to fulfill grant goals and Commission priorities was to focus on a specific client group that could be supported by an educational institution. TSLAC has partnered with Region One Education Service Center in the Valley Region to deploy the iPads to students and their families, with a priority to students enrolled in the TBP program, support access to reading materials, and foster digital literacy skills.

This item was for discussion only. No action was taken.

7.    Adjournment

Commissioner Mann moved to adjourn commission meeting, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Tocker. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 11:21 a.m.