Artificial intelligence can feel overwhelming for libraries. Between privacy concerns, confusing headlines, and pressure to “keep up,” it is easy to see why many library workers feel uncertain about what role they should play. But according to Jose Ruiz-Vazquez, assistant manager at the Milwood Branch of Austin Public Library, librarians already have the exact skills…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference Professional Development Award June 15, 2026 The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Training Office and NNLM Region 1 are requesting Professional Development Award applications to attend the…
Inside the Archives and Information Services Division (ARIS) at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin, preserving history is often a race against time powered by scanners, film machines, forensic computers, and enormous amounts of digital storage. From fragile Civil War-era documents and aging cassette tapes to born-digital government records, ARIS uses a…
Younger Texans don’t always think about a library as a destination for a good time. They might think of them as a quiet place to study or check out a book. But for Alexzandra Stroud, libraries have become something much bigger: community spaces filled with creativity, technology, learning, and connection. We first heard about Alexzandra…
The Family Place™ Training Institute brings together passionate library staff from across Texas for an inspiring experience focused on supporting families in their communities. Bee Cave Public Library became a Family Place™ location back in 2016, and graciously hosted our 2026 Family Place™ Training Institute. Staff from libraries across the state, from El Paso to…
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year was slop, as in AI slop, and it’s easy to see why. Increasingly, AI has seeped into everything, our phones, our work, our entertainment, and it’s not all good. Merriam-Webster defines AI slop as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial…
Library-Centered Community Connection: Three Texas Library Stories Libraries are more than buildings filled with books—they are gathering places where communities connect, celebrate, learn, and grow together. Across Texas, libraries are creating programs that respond directly to the needs of their communities, building stronger relationships across generations and ensuring that people of all ages feel welcomed…
Through the Library Infrastructure Facility Improvement (LIFI) grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), libraries across the state are transforming into essential spaces for life’s most important moments. These aren’t just upgrades. They’re quiet revolutions. Inside newly installed privacy booths and study rooms, patrons are attending telehealth appointments, participating in legal depositions,…
As we consider the role of meeting room access in public libraries, the following scenario illustrates how well-intentioned efforts to support community engagement can reveal the risks that arise when a clear meeting room policy is not in place. Without consistent guidelines, libraries may face inconsistent decision-making, interpersonal conflict, and perceptions of unfair or unequal…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Internship May 11, 2026 Do you know any current undergraduate or graduate students—or recent college graduates (within six months)—preparing for employment or further studies in education, library science, history or museum studies? Would…
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is made up of four divisions, Library Development and Networking (LDN), State and Local Record Management (SLRM), Archives and Information Services (ARIS), and the Talking Book Program (TBP). For this blog, we wanted to dive deeper into the technology the Talking Book Program uses for their programming and…
In Balch Springs, Texas, the public library is more than a place to check out books. It is a place where neighbors meet, skills are shared, and partnerships grow into something bigger than any one program. For Teresa Smith Conley, programming is not just part of the job. It is a passion rooted in creativity,…
The Texas State Independent Living Council (Texas SILC), in collaboration with the Governor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, has launched a statewide needs assessment survey to better understand the experiences, barriers, and priorities of Texans with disabilities. Public libraries are encouraged to share this survey widely in their communities to reach as many individuals as…
It’s been a year since I stepped into the role of Digital Literacy Consultant at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. It’s been a year of growth, discovery, connection, and deepening appreciation for the thoughtful and selfless care librarians put into their work as they serve their communities. A year ago, I was traveling…
Library-Led Community Impact: Three Texas Library Stories Opening Doors | Montgomery County Memorial Library System (Spring, TX) In Montgomery County, a community eager for stability and opportunity, residents found themselves navigating the uncertainty of job seeking and struggling to connect with trustworthy employers and meaningful work. Recognizing this need, the Central Library of the Montgomery…