Upcoming Opportunities
These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Library Leadership Essentials Series
June 2025 | 10:00 a.m. – Noon (Central)
Each 2-hour virtual training will be led by Eddy Smith and consist of a topical presentation followed by an opportunity for questions and answers.
- June 12, 2025: Strategic Planning
- June 18, 2025: Leadership vs. Management
- June 26, 2025: Imposter Syndrome
For more information, visit Plan’s event calendar.
More Money, More Programs
June 18, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Through the Impact Library Program, Little Free Library provides free book exchanges where they can have a meaningful impact in the United States and Canada. The program aims to strengthen community ties, inspire readers, expand easy book access, positively influence literacy outcomes, and make Little Free Libraries available in high-need areas. For more information, visit the program webpage.
Weathering the Storm: A Rural Guide to Disaster Planning & Readiness
June 24, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. (Central)
Do you know what to do when disaster strikes? Who to call? This webinar will help community leaders, nonprofits, and funders get ready before the next emergency. Get prepared with a strong disaster response and a solid plan with knowledge of the resources available ahead of time. For more information, visit the program website.
T-mobile Hometown Grants
June 30, 2025
T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow. Hometown Grants are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns. Apply for funding to support a community project of your choice, like revitalizing or repurposing a historic structure, creating a downtown asset or destination, or improving a space where friends and neighbors gather. Projects that add to a sense of place or could lead to further investment are of particular interest. For more information, visit the Mainstreet America grants page.
AMERICAN REVOLUTION Library Microgrant Opportunity
July 5, 2025
In partnership with their local Public Broadcast Service station libraries are invited to participate in this special engagement opportunity around THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION — a sweeping six-part, 12-hour documentary series chronicling the birth of the United States from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. This microgrant opportunity offers libraries $750 in funding to support community programming and engagement tied to the themes of the series and is a great opportunity to connect with the community around the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Project activities could include film screenings, history discussions, exhibits, book clubs, speaker events, youth projects, or other innovative ideas that bring local communities into conversation about the American Revolution and its enduring legacy. For more information, visit the request for proposals.
Cross Timbers Library Collaborative Conference
July 24-25, 2025
This conference provides the opportunity for libraries across the Cross Timbers region to showcase activities, services, and technology happenings in their libraries. Cross Timbers spans from southeastern Kansas to Central Texas. The University of North Texas Libraries will be hosting the 2025 conference online on July 25, 2025 to reflect on our successes and challenges as they relate to this year’s theme: “Advocacy and Resilience: Navigating Uncertain Times.” The primary conference goal is to promote information sharing, bring awareness to successful (or unsuccessful) programs, and provide an affordable training opportunity for libraries in the region. For more information, visit the conference website.
Ongoing Tools
These tools are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Introduction to measuring your impact (webinar)
Your nonprofit does great work, but what is most important is the impact of that work. How do you demonstrate that your programs get results? An outcome-centric approach will lead to stronger program design and increased funding opportunities for your organization. In this introductory course for beginners, learn the basics of shifting focus from your nonprofit’s activities to its outcomes. We will demystify the language of outcomes measurement and guide you through the process of creating logic models for programs. For more information, visit the course website.
Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) Newsletter
The most recent edition features information about the organization’s leadership, a partner spotlight, CSLP author talks, a mural tool kit, and a manual highlight. Read the CSLP newsletter online or subscribe and receive it in your inbox each month.
Findhelp
Building healthier and happier communities starts with supporting the whole person. That’s why Findhelp was founded in 2010: to connect all people in need to the programs that serve them with dignity and ease. This software platform enables community organizations, governments, healthcare organizations, and businesses across industries to easily manage and coordinate care. From screening and closed-loop referrals to outcomes tracking and actionable insights, Findhelp is powering the American social safety net. For more information, visit the organization website.
Audiobook Listening Copy Program
Educators, librarians, booksellers, media reviewers, and influencers can join Libro.fm’s Audiobook Listening Copy (ALC) program for complimentary audiobooks. You’ll get a mix of new and upcoming audiobook releases each month. For more information, visit the program webpage.
Employee Rights for Managers in the USA (webinar)
Have you ever worked somewhere that made you feel uncomfortable or mistreated? Many people have bad job stories. But there are laws in place to protect employees from harassment, discrimination, unfair treatment, and unsafe conditions. And as a manager, you are expected to support and follow these laws. Recognizing and supporting employee rights can help you avoid legal trouble and build a better workplace. Instead of becoming someone’s bad job story, you can develop a happy, productive, and engaged team. For more information visit the webinar webpage.
Consulting Services
The Texas State Library and Archive Commission’s Continuing Education and Consulting (CEC) team provides answers and professional development to Texas library staff. CEC believes in the value of libraries to transform their communities and in the value of learning to create change. For more information, visit the Consulting Team webpage.
Crafting and Maintaining Effective Patron Policies for Community Success (webinar)
Effective library policies are essential for setting clear expectations, defining responsibilities, and establishing boundaries for both patrons and staff. This session will cover the ten most common patron-facing policies and offer guidance on selecting and tailoring them to meet your library and community needs for safe and effective operation. Using a Code of Conduct policy as an example, we’ll discuss how to avoid policies driven by trauma or drama, ensuring they are clear, accessible, and enforceable. Additionally, we’ll explore best practices for policy management, including the importance of regular reviews by directors, boards, and staff, to maintain accountability and relevance. For more information, visit the webinar webpage.
Proactive Planning for Library Staff Transitions (webinar)
Libraries, like all organizations, need to plan for both anticipated and unexpected staff transitions. This webinar will introduce practical approaches to preserve organizational knowledge, clarify processes for current staff and trustees, and ease the learning curve for new employees. With higher turnover rates and the ever-changing nature of our work in libraries, procedures and policies should be updated and adapted proactively, instead of reactively, to ensure that work is accomplished by well-prepared staff, ready to meet changing community and organizational needs. From payroll to password management, and from job evaluations to janitorial, the various facets and functions of the library can be clarified to better support all staff transitions. Learn how both short- and long-term transitions can be navigated effectively and purposefully with a “transition readiness checklist,” moving both library staff and trustees toward a shared understanding of roles and expectations across the organization. For more information, visit the program website.
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.
