Upcoming Opportunities
These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Newsletter
The most recent edition features information about a sneak peek at the 2025 program, this year’s Summer Symposium, joining a committee, new incentives, volunteer and staff spotlights, and library success stories. Read the CSLP newsletter online or subscribe and receive it in your inbox each month.
“Some Assembly Required”: Prepare for the 2024 Texas Public Libraries Annual Report
Oct 17, 2024 | 10:00 AM CT | Online
Join Library Data Coordinator Valicia Greenwood as she focuses on gathering materials and information needed to complete the 2024 Annual Report. This presentation will cover basic terminology, where resources can be found, and answer any questions that you might have – whether you are new to the program or need a reminder of best practices. For more information, visit the event registration page.
LibraryCon Live
November 14, 2024 | Online
Join Library Journal and School Library Journal on November 14 for their eighth annual LibraryCon Live—a day-long celebration of fandom, spotlighting genre fiction for adults and teens with panels devoted to comics and graphic novels, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and more. Plus, network online while exploring the virtual exhibit hall, where you’ll hear from publishers about their newest books, download FREE galleys and resources, and engage in live chats with featured authors and illustrators. For more information, visit the event webpage.
Summer Symposium
December 5, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 PM EST
The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Summer Symposium is a half-day virtual offering for public library staff to connect, learn, and collaborate as they plan for summer library programming around the 2025 theme of Color Our World : Colorea Nuestro Mundo. This opportunity is free to all Texas Public Library workers via their affiliation with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Registration opens November 5, 2024. For more information, visit the event webpage.
Big Talk From Small Libraries – Call for Speakers
December 13, 2024
The call for speakers for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2025 is open! Submit your proposal by Friday, December 13, 2024. This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries; the smaller the better! Small libraries of all types – public, academic, school, museum, special, etc. – are encouraged to submit a proposal. They’re looking for seven 50-minute presentations and four 10-minute “lightning round” presentations. This year’s conference will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025 between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (CT) via GoTo Webinar. For more information, visit the call for speakers webpage.
J. Frank Dobie Trust Grants
December 13, 2024
The J. Frank Dobie Library Trust Awards Committee is accepting applications for 2025 grants through December 13, 2024. When famed Texas author and folklorist J. Frank Dobie passed away in 1964, he left the majority of his estate to create the J. Frank Dobie Library Trust for the purpose of assisting small Texas libraries in purchasing books. Awards are selected annually by a committee and presented at the opening luncheon of the Texas Library Association annual conference (attendance is not required). For more information, visit the grant’s About page.
Rural Library NetWork eSummit
End of 2024 | Online
At the end of each year, the Rural Library eSummit brings together more than 500 rural library practitioners and friends from across rural America to celebrate their role in building strong communities. At the eSummit, practitioners learn more about using cradle-to-career strategies to address educational and health disparities as well as having the chance to access resources needed to do this work. During the eSummit, incentives will be shared and networking opportunities will abound! For more information, visit the event webpage.
Ongoing Tools
These tools are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Building Authentic Relationships with Underserved Communities (webinar)
You know your library could do more to connect with and respond to the systematically excluded communities you serve. But if you’re starting with little or no existing connection, how do you build authentic, trust-based relationships? How do you go beyond transactional interactions and guessing at services to effective engagement and participation? This webinar will help you develop a plan for identifying, reaching, and building relationships with communities experiencing oppression. For more information, visit the event webpage.
Dare to Disagree (TED Talk)
Most people instinctively avoid conflict, but as Margaret Heffernan shows us, good disagreement is central to progress. She illustrates (sometimes counterintuitively) how the best partners aren’t echo chambers — and how great research teams, relationships and businesses allow people to deeply disagree. For more information, visit the event webpage.
Getting More Books in More Hands (webinar)
Join Demco Book Doctor Kimberly Young as she discusses the goal of every library: getting more books in more hands. This webinar will explore different ways to make this happen for you and your team. For more information, visit the event webpage.
New Mexican American Genealogy Resources
September 15 through October 15 marks Mexican American Heritage Month, and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is excited to share two new resources that may be of interest to anyone researching their family history.
The new Mexican American Genealogical Research page is now live on the website. It provides information on related resources and research at TSLAC. The goal is to help researchers who are interested in accessing the records of Hispanic, Mexican, and Mexican American individuals, with a focus on those who lived in the geographic area now known as the state of Texas. This page joins their existing African American Genealogy and American Indian Genealogy pages.
On September 27, the Archives and Reference team released their latest free research webinar, “Mexican American Genealogy Resources at TSLAC.” These monthly webinars are under 20 minutes and provide brief introductions to various topics of interest, with previous editions archived on the Webinar Series webpage and streamable any time on the TSLAC Free Research Webinars YouTube playlist!
If you have questions about genealogy or other research resources at the State Library and Archives, feel free to reach out to the Reference Desk at ref@tsl.texas.gov or 512-463-5455.
To stay apprised of the latest news, events, and services from TSLAC, subscribe to the TSLAC Happenings newsletter and follow them on social media.
Need more support?
Resource Archive
Wish you had access to a repository of all the tools that are featured in the monthly Library Management Updates? Check out our Resource Archive for more information.
Continuing Education
In addition, be sure to peruse our continuing education offerings. Our resources are constantly updated, so check back often.
Questions?
For more information, visit our management services page or contact Christina Taylor at ctaylor@tsl.texas.gov.
