Upcoming Opportunities
These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Competitive Grant Applications Open
The application cycle for TSLAC’s state fiscal year 2026 competitive grants is now open:
- TexTreasures Grants – Deadline: February 10, 2025
- Special Projects Grants – Deadline: February 10, 2025
- Texas Reads Grants – Deadline: March 7, 2025
Grant guidelines for the programs, as well as specific information about the application process, past recipients, and additional resources are on the TSLAC Grant Programs page.
E-Read Texas: Quarterly Updates (webinar)
February 12, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. (Central)
This webinar will discuss updates to the E-Read Texas program, including the Boundless app and administrative interface. We’ll also go over some frequently asked questions, such as managing log in issues with Boundless, creating featured lists, and more! We will have plenty of time for questions and answers, so bring your questions! This session will be recorded for those unable to attend the live presentation. To register, visit the Library Development and Networking Division’s Upcoming Webinars webpage.
Applying for a Texas Library Grant (webinar)
Join the Texas Library Association’s (TLA) February webinar, “Applying for a Texas Library Grant”, hosted by the Texas Book Festival (TBF)! Learn about the Texas Library Grants application process and gain valuable insights on applying. Since 1995, TBF has awarded over $3.6 million in grants to support public libraries across the state. Don’t miss this opportunity to support your library! For more information, visit TLA’S Free Member Webinars page.
LiFTA Annual Conference Stipend
February 14, 2025
The Library Friends, Trustees, and Advocates Round Table (LiFTA) is providing an opportunity for Trustees, Friends, Lay Advocates, and Volunteers to apply for two $600 stipends to attend the Texas Library Association’s (TLA) 2025 Annual Conference on April 1-4, 2025, in Dallas. The awarded funds can be applied toward membership, registration, and travel costs. Please consider the following information and submit your application! Deadline is February 14, 2025.
For more information, visit the LiFTA website
An Ethical Reflection Aid for Implementing AI in Libraries and Archives (webinar)
February 12, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. CT
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in libraries and archives as a powerful tool for enhancing metadata, improving search and discovery, recommending resources, powering library chatbots, and more. However, AI systems also have the potential to cause social, technical, and ethical problems. In response to these issues, the IMLS-funded Responsible AI in Libraries and Archives project has created an ethical reflection aid to facilitate responsible implementation of AI systems in libraries and archives. The ethical reflection aid incorporates LIS professional values such as Privacy and Consent, Resource Responsibility, Organizational Transparency, Literacy, and Access. During this webinar, members of the project team will discuss research results and introduce the prototype ethical reflection aid. For more information, visit the webinar webpage.
Survey: Rural Library Service for Community Sustainability
Extended Deadline: February 14, 2025
The Library Social Service Research Team at Indiana University Indianapolis invites all rural librarians to participate in a survey on rural library services and their role in community sustainability. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, and participants will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win one of 200 Amazon e-gift cards valued at $20 each. For more information, visit the online form.
Legal Landscape of Librarianship Forum
February 18-20, 2025 | Online | $35
This virtual conference will bring together public, school, and academic library workers, LIS students, law students, and lawyers to address and discuss the rights of individuals, the rights of library employees, and the rights of library organizations, while examining the options we have for a professionally strong way forward. For more information, visit the event website.
Library of Congress Literacy Award
February 18, 2025
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program honors organizations that have made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the United States or abroad. The awards are intended to draw public attention to the importance of literacy, and the need to promote literacy and encourage reading. By recognizing current achievements, the awards seek to enable any organization or program that does not operate on a for-profit basis to strengthen its involvement in literacy and reading promotion and to encourage collaboration with like-minded organizations. The awards also encourage the continuing development of innovative methods for combating illiteracy and the wide dissemination of the most effective practices. For more information, visit the program webpage.
Brief, but Descriptive: Writing Effective Alt Text (webinar)
February 19, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Adding alt text to images is an essential accessibility practice for librarians. A brief textual description used by screen readers, alt text should be present anytime a librarian uses an image, including in social media marketing, instructional materials and online guides, and websites. Effective alt text can be tricky. How detailed does one need to be? Would context change the alt text? And if alt text is supposed to be brief, how does one describe complex images like artwork and research data? In this webinar, Melissa Wong will help participants learn to write effective alt text for different contexts and types of content, from simple social media posts to complex scientific and artistic materials. To register, visit the webinar webpage.
Abilene Public Library’s Spring Workshop
Registration Deadline: February 24, 2025
Abilene Public Library (APL) hosts an annual workshop to help small libraries—public and school—with their programming and summer reading challenges. The 2025 workshop will focus on STEAM programming as well as partnerships with the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NICCL), the Children’s Art and Literacy Festival (CALF), and The Grace Museum of Abilene. This year’s event is scheduled for March 3, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and is limited to 65 participants. To register, complete the event’s online form.
Big Talk From Small Libraries
February 28, 2025 | 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CT
This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries – the smaller the better! Each of the speakers is from a library serving fewer than 10,000 people or is directly partnered with a small library and co-presenting with the library. Topics range from technology to programming to new roles for the library. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries. Everyone is welcome to register and attend, regardless of how big or small your library. But, if your library serves a few hundred to a few thousand people, this is the day for you! For more information, visit the conference webpage.
Ongoing Tools
These tools are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Conflict Transformation (online course)
This course introduces you to the concept of conflict transformation and how it differs from conflict resolution, management, and prevention. You will see how conflict offers opportunities for constructive change and explore different tools and methods for engaging in conflict constructively. Regardless of your familiarity with the topic, you’ll get insightful tips, portable handouts, lively demonstrations, and personalized assignments to bridge and enhance your own knowledge and history within the conflict narrative. In any area of your life, you’ll benefit from the practical techniques and transferable information offered through this learning journey. Approximately 17 hours – learn at your own pace. For more information, visit the course webpage
Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Newsletter
The most recent edition features information about the 2025 Summer Reading Champion. Read the CSLP newsletter online or subscribe and receive it in your inbox each month.
Grants and Funding: You Can Do This (webinar)
In this recorded webinar from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s New Director Orientation series, Grants team – Dominic Gonzales, Erica McCormick and Taylor Gardner- shared updates on what you need to know when applying for TSLAC grants. 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 TSLAC’s grants, please visit the Grants and Funding webpages or contact the Grants team at grants@tsl.texas.gov..
Don’t manage change—embrace it (webinar)
Trying to make changes at your library can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you get people on board? What do you do when you encounter resistance? Change management plans can help, but too often they frame the change as a problem to manage rather than an opportunity to reach for a shared vision. In this webinar, you will:
- Learn strategies for effective, positive change-making
- Examine how shifting your mindset to center growth and strengths can help you positively reframe change
- Explore approaches to leadership, collaboration, and power-sharing that meaningfully engage impacted groups
- Plan for and address change anxiety and resistance
For more information, visit the webinar 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.
