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 this year’s Summer Symposium, the 2027 slogan and the 2028 theme, resources for inclusive programing as well as community outreach, and library success stories. Read the CSLP newsletter online or subscribe and receive it in your inbox each month.
Awards, Scholarships, Stipends, and Grants
Now Open
The Texas Library Association (TLA) offers awards and scholarships honoring excellence in, and contributions to, the library profession. In addition, TLA offers stipends to help defray the costs of attending Annual Conference and membership, and many TLA units also offer awards and scholarships. Applications are now open; apply to help your work get recognized! For more information, visit the association’s awards, scholarships, and stipends webpage.
2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program
Now Open
The fiscal year (FY) 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program requests for applications (RFAs) are now open. This year the RFA has been split into three separate solicitations:
For more information, visit the application webpage.
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.
2024 Texas Book Festival
November 16-17, 2024
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission will once again be an official Texas Book Festival site in 2024, hosting author panels and inviting book lovers to visit us for a special open house.
Special Texas Book Festival TSLAC Open House hours:
- Saturday, November 16, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, November 17, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For more information, visit the library’s event webpage.
Proposed Changes to Minimum Accreditation Criteria: 2026 and Beyond
November 19, 2024 | 2:00-3:30 p.m. central
Minimum Standards for Accreditation of Libraries in the Texas Administrative Code were last updated in 2014. After extensive discussion and review over the past 18 months, a proposal of updated standards has been drafted and submitted to the Library and Archives Commission. It will be released for public comment for thirty days before being adopted. Join members of the LDN accreditation staff to review the proposed criteria and get advance notice on the new minimums that will be put in place. For more information, visit the Continuing Education and Consulting Team’s Upcoming Webinars page.
Rural Library NetWork eSummit
December 4, 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.
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.
Ongoing Tools
These tools are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Goodwill® Digital Navigator Certificate Specialization
A self-paced, 15-hour training program that provides the skills, knowledge, and tools to effectively design and implement digital navigation services. Participants will engage with examples of effective digital navigation and resources along with strategies that can be flexibly implemented and adapted to a variety of organizations and communities. The program is available at no cost for those who enroll as auditors, and paid participation ($49) enables the ability to obtain the Goodwill® Digital Navigator Certificate. For more information, visit the course webpage.
Exploring Census Data Webinar Series
This series explores data available from the Census Bureau by topics and how the data can help data users make informed business decisions. For more information, visit the series’ webpage.
Statewide Resource Sharing Programs (webinar)
In this recorded webinar from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s New Director Orientation series, Statewide Resource Sharing Manager Jeremy Selvidge shared updates and answer questions about TexShare and E-Read Texas. For access to the presentation recordings and resources, visit the “New Director Orientation” section of the Texas Public Library Management webpage.
For additional support with the statewide resource sharing programs for Texas libraries, please visit the TexShare webpages or contact the Resource Sharing Staff at TexShare@tsl.texas.gov.
Data storytelling 101 (webinar)
Storytelling is a vital strategy for communicating impact and justifying future investments. Powerful and effective stories allow us to create a roadmap that weaves together information and emotion. This webinar will provide an orientation to storytelling that centers cultural humility while leveraging storytelling dynamics, including how to practice and refine an impactful story with a live audience. Participants will learn the techniques of story construction based on three classic narrative structures, with roots in folklore and narratology, and explore examples of data stories told by and about libraries. For more information, visit the event webpage.
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.
