As the quest to close the digital divide marches on, rural Texas libraries remain on the front lines—eager to serve their communities but often lacking the resources and technical infrastructure needed to keep up. Technology and connectivity are essential to modern library services, yet for many rural libraries, even understanding what’s required can be a…
Turn messy spreadsheets into meaningful stories. Join Promise Madu, TSLAC’s Data and Project Coordinator, for an interactive session on cleaning, organizing, and visualizing your library’s data. You’ll learn how to take raw numbers and shape them into clear visuals that highlight the impact of your library’s programs and services. When: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 |…
What started out as a sizeable donation of custom-built video games from the county’s STEM club was quickly joined by the late Mr. Nguyen’s golden age Superman comics and his daughter’s childhood collection of rare Shojo manga—only to then be expanded by Ms. Gordon’s crafting overstock that was curated by the library’s teen advisory board…
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is pleased to announce that applications for fiscal year 2026 Family Place Libraries™ Project grants will start being accepted Tuesday, September 2, 2025. TSLAC is looking for qualified libraries to attend a Family Place Libraries™ Training Institute to be hosted at a Texas public library and then…
August for public libraries is a transitional month. The summer buzz winds down and the pace slows giving space to regroup, refocus, and get ready for the busy fall months. But even in this quieter stretch, the to-do list never seems to shrink, and for many, it often feels like there’s not enough time to…
At McKinney Public Library, data isn’t an afterthought; it’s the backbone of decision-making, from library hours to programming to collection development. Director Spencer Smith and his team have made a habit of asking, What do the numbers say?, and the results speak for themselves. Shaping hours to match community needs Before renovating the downtown branch,…
With Summer Library Program in the review mirror, you can practically hear the thrum of those yellow limousines, taste the cafeteria‘s food service delights, and smell the essential oils of fresh pencil shavings mingling with melted crayons. And now that it’s back to school season, learning and reflection are top of mind. As the young…
Even though your summer reading programs may be winding down, there is one last chance for your community to participate in a national summer reading challenge. Second Lady Usha Vance is challenging children in grades K-8 to read 12 books of their choice between June 1 and September 5. Here’s how the program works: If you would…
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is supporting the launch of the Presidential AI Challenge, a national initiative encouraging K-12 students and educators to harness the power of artificial intelligence to address local community challenges. This effort invites participants from all backgrounds to develop innovative AI-based projects while building skills and confidence in…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Foundations of Philanthropic Partnership August 6, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) Ready to transform how you approach philanthropy? Join Mary Riddick for this foundational session to shift your perspective from traditional fundraising to authentic partnership-building. Discover how to…