News


   Austin, TX    TSLAC Director and State Librarian Mark Smith to Retire   

Portrait of Mark Smith in front of the pink granite of the de Zavala building

Austin, TX - Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) Director and State Librarian Mark Smith has announced his retirement effective September 1, 2021.

   Austin, TX    The Texas Talking Book Program Celebrates Its Recording Studio Volunteers   

Austin, TX – April 18, 2021, marked the start of National Volunteer Week in the United States. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission recognized its Talking Book Program (TBP) and the TBP Recording Studio volunteers who have been resilient and dedicated, continuing to provide thousands of Texans with reading materials in digital audio format.

Stephen Lewis, manager for the TBP Recording Studio said, “Our volunteers are the best! Without them our patrons, whether statewide or nationally, would have significantly less material to read.”

   Lubbock, TX    LEARN Partners with TSLAC, Connecting Rural Texas Libraries   

Lubbock TX – With the COVID-19 pandemic increasing demand for reliable Internet access outside of school and work, the need to improve Internet capabilities of community anchor institutions, such as libraries, is more important than ever.

   Austin, TX    Read Across Texas 2021 Titles Now Available to Texans as Free E-Books from E-Read Texas   

Austin, TX – The Texas Center for the Book (TCFB) invites libraries, community nonprofits, and readers statewide to join in its 2021 reading campaign, Read Across Texas: Recovery.

   Austin, TX    Texas Center for the Book to Host Free “Read Across Texas” Virtual Author Event May 19   

Austin, TX – The Texas Center for the Book invites book lovers statewide to register for its May 19 Read Across Texas author event featuring Texas writers Nancy Wayson Dinan and Chris Barton, moderated by KUT’s Jennifer Stayton.

   Austin, TX    Winners of the 2020-2021 Letters About Literature Texas Competition Announced   

Austin, TX – The Texas Center for the Book has announced the winners of the 2020-2021 Letters About Literature Texas contest, a statewide event sponsored by the Texas Library and Archives Foundation. This annual competition invites 4th through 12th grade students to write letters to authors—living or dead—about how that writer’s words affected them or changed their worldview.

   Austin, TX    Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center Makes Newton County Historical Records Available Online   

Liberty, TX – In celebration of Newton County’s 175th anniversary, the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center (SHC), part of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), has digitized records salvaged from the 2000 Newton County Courthouse fire and made them freely available online.

The records were donated to the SHC for professional conservation treatment after being damaged. Although the records survived the flames, the water used to fight the fire left them moldy, covered in dirt and soot and, in some cases, torn and unbound.

   Austin, TX    Texas Center for the Book Celebrates Children and Diversity in Literature   

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   Austin, TX    Governor Abbott Appoints Three to Texas Historical Records Advisory Board   

Austin, TX – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Tara Turk-Zaafran to the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) for a term set to expire on February 1, 2023. The governor reappointed Jelain Chubb and Malinda L. Cowen for terms expiring on February 1, 2025 and February 1, 2024, respectively.

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