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 spark generosity in others by connecting your mission to a community who believes in what you do. When there is a need, humanity always rises to the occasion—let’s unlock that potential together. For more information, visit the event webpage.
Lois Lenski Covey Foundations Bookmobile Grants
August 15, 2025
The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation provides grants to bookmobile programs that serve children from disadvantaged populations. The foundation awards grants to organizations that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth. The grants are for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 8. Bookmobiles operated by charitable [501(c)(3)] and other non-taxable agencies, including public libraries or schools, are eligible. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need. Grants range from $500 to $3,000 and are specifically for book purchases, and cannot be used for administrative or operational uses. For more information, visit the grants webpage.
The Innovative Library: Creativity, Change, and Impact
August 26, 2025 | 2:00-5:00 p.m. (Central)
Libraries are at the forefront of innovation, evolving to meet the changing needs of their communities in creative and impactful ways. The Innovative Library conference explores how librarians across all types of institutions—academic, public, and beyond—are leading change, turning ideas into action, and forging new partnerships. Through case studies and real-world examples, we’ll highlight how libraries are not just adapting to the future but actively shaping it. From leadership in transformation to securing funding for ambitious projects, this event showcases the bold thinking that propels libraries forward. Whether you’re reimagining services, experimenting with new technologies, or leading institutional change, “The Innovative Library” is a space to inspire and be inspired—where ideas become action, and action drives progress. For more information, visit the event website.
Hot off the Shelf! Libraries for Health Evaluation & Toolkit Webinar
August 26, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Mental health challenges like depression and anxiety remain among Texas’ most urgent health needs-especially in rural areas where access to care is limited. But what if the path to support didn’t start in a clinic? In 2022, St. David’s Foundation launched Libraries for Health, a bold pilot to reimagine mental health delivery by embedding peer support services directly into 10 rural libraries. These trusted, accessible community hubs became vital spaces for mental wellness, thanks to the collaborative efforts of implementation partner Via Hope and evaluation partner RAND. Join a first look at RAND’s newly released evaluation report and replication toolkit. Attendees will learn more about how the Libraries for Health program model works, what made it successful – and challenging – and how your rural community can adapt this innovative model to meet local resource needs. To reserve your seat, complete the event registration form.
Foundation for Rural Service Community Grant Program
September 5, 2025
As part of its ongoing commitment to rural communities across the country, Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) offers aid to communities served by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association members through its annual Community Grant Program. These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America. Applications for these grants are accepted each summer, ranging from $250 to $5,000. For more information, visit the grants webpage.
TSLAC Family Place Libraries Grant – What It’s About and How To Participate
September 10, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. (Central)
Family Place Libraries transforms libraries into community centers for early literacy, parent education, and family support. In this webinar, TSLAC’s Youth Services Consultant and a member of the Grant Team will discuss expectations and requirements for the 2026 Family Place Libraries Project grant applications and strategies on how to meet those expectations. The discussion will include a review of how grants will be scored as well as the information needed for the application. For more information, visit the Upcoming Webinars page.
In-person Workshops
September 11 – October 3, 2025
Join the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) for an in-person workshop near you! We will be holding FREE two-day, in-person workshops for public libraries around Texas in 2025.
These trainings are tailored to meet the needs of both library directors and staff—focusing on circulation policy development as well as de-escalation skills as part of setting healthy boundaries:
- Circulation Policy Workshop – This will be a dynamic, day-long event designed specifically for public library directors and staff who are responsible for developing the library’s circulation policy.
- De-escalation Skills Workshop – This will be an impactful event crafted for library staff who work directly with the public.
For more information and to register, visit the event webpage.
Literacy Everywhere Contest
September 12, 2025
Literacy is everywhere! What does it look like for your family? Share a photo, video, or artwork showing us how your family reads, learns, and plays together! Family literacy means spending time reading, learning, and playing together–anywhere and anytime! A family can include parents, grandparents, siblings, caregivers, or anyone who joins in. Show us how your family comes together to read, learn, and play in all kinds of places and at all ages. You could win $1,000 in cash and a trip to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy’s National Celebration of Reading in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit the contest website.
Texas Library and Archives Foundation Scholarships
September 15, 2025 | 12:00 Midnight (Central)
The Texas Library and Archives Foundation (TxLAF) has announced its annual Martha Wong Scholarship opportunity, as well as the new Mark Smith–Gloria Meraz Scholarship, for students in a Texas library/information science or school library certification program. Both scholarships will award a reimbursable grant of $2,000 that may be used for tuition or required textbooks.
Through these awards, the Foundation encourages Texans to pursue a degree from a Texas library/information science graduate program or school library certification program. These scholarships have been generously funded by Dr. Martha Wong, Chair of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Funds will be used for the January 2026 semester. Eligible applicants must live in Texas or work in a Texas library and should have the intention of pursuing a professional library position in Texas after obtaining their degree. For full grant details and to apply online, visit the Foundation’s website at www.txlaf.org/scholarship. The deadline to apply is 12:00 midnight (central) on September 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified by October 15. Questions may be emailed to txlafinfo@tsl.texas.gov.
Preparing Your Library for Weather Emergencies
September 19, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Eastern)
This one-hour session will equip participants with practical strategies to prepare their library or worksite for environmental disasters. Attendees will learn how to assess potential environmental threats, create a site-specific disaster preparedness plan, and assemble emergency kits. The session will also provide guidance on first response actions during weather-related and other environmental emergencies, helping participants build confidence and take proactive steps toward preparedness. For more information, visit the course web page.
Walmart Spark Good Local Grants
October 15, 2025
Each year, Walmart U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs, and Distribution Centers award local cash grants ranging from $250 to $5,000.Local grants are designed to support local organizations that meet the unique needs of the communities where we operate, build pride among all associates, and deepen relationships with our customers. For more information, visit the grants webpage.
Grant for Disaster Recovery in Central Texas
January 26, 2026
The National Endowment for the Humanities’s (NEH) Acting Chairman has issued an open call for applications for Chair’s Disaster Recovery Grants for Humanities Collections, to organizations that steward humanities collections affected by the floods in Central Texas in July 2025. This grant program helps humanities organizations that steward collections respond to and recover from local, state, regional, and federally declared disasters, including fires, floods, hurricanes, mudslides, and climate-related disasters. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis for six months from organizations in or serving the counties covered by the Federal disaster declaration. For more information, visit the program webpage.
Ongoing Tools
These tools 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 the annual survey, a partner webinar, a manual highlight, and member spotlights. Read the CSLP newsletter online or subscribe and receive it in your inbox each month.
Policy Pressures: AI and Public Libraries (article)
As libraries define their relationship with artificial intelligence (AI), library policy will play an essential role. History tells us that technological developments have a tendency to thwart well-intentioned policy, and this may prove especially true with respect to AI! For more information, read the complete article.
Digital Public Libraries of America
Digital Public Libraries of America (DPLA) webinars are online learning opportunities highlighting subjects central to our community, such as education, metadata, technology, copyright, and more. These events are open to the public (registration required) and will be recorded unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit DPLA’s Workshops page.
Fortifying Your Library: Protecting Your Library and Staff Through Policy (webinar)
Libraries are in need of updated policies now more than ever. Strong policy is one of the best ways to protect library staff, prevent issues, and keep unpreventable issues from escalating too far. Join Al Hayden for this webinar, which will offer practical advice for revising your library’s policies with:
- Essential policies every library should keep updated
- Tools to evaluate the strength of the policies you have now
- Guidelines to consider when revising your policies
- Suggestions for training staff on your updates
- Communicating policy to patrons
For more information visit the webinar webpage.
Commonly Requested Legal Forms
The Commonly Requested Legal Forms webpage, hosted by the Texas State Law Library, is a valuable resource for individuals seeking access to frequently used legal forms in Texas. It provides free, downloadable forms related to issues such as divorce, name changes, landlord-tenant disputes, and more. While the library cannot provide legal advice, this page helps users find practical tools and information to navigate common legal matters independently. For more information, visit the webpage.
Texas Writes
Supported by a grant from the Tocker Foundation, Texas Writes launched in 2013 with five visits to libraries in Central Texas. Over a decade later, the program has hosted close to 100 visits and reached countless writers across the state. The Texas Writes program brings free half-day writing workshops for adult writers to small community libraries. The program includes:
- Two craft of writing presentations
- A moderated conversation on the writing process and the publishing side
- Plenty of time for questions
- PLUS refreshments (all at no cost to the library or attendees).
For more information, visit the program website
Library Staff Training Newsletter
To best support frontline staff, this newsletter serves as a go-to resource for professional development opportunities. It highlights upcoming training sessions and provides a curated list of asynchronous webinars and courses you can access at your convenience. By keeping staff and directors informed of these resources, we hope to support your growth and help you continue providing exceptional service to your community.To subscribe, complete this online form.
Using American Community Survey Data for Grant Writing
Learn about how data from the American Community Survey (ACS) can answer a variety of questions posed in grant applications or provide information needed to advocate for the members of your local communities. You’ll also learn best practices to search for ACS data you need for grant applications through a live demonstration of data.census.gov. Recorded webinars can be accessed from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Recorded Webinars webpage.
Elevating core skills with new Library Foundational Training (LiFT) courses [webinar]
The Library Foundational Training (LiFT) courses build on the popular ABLE (Alternative Basic Library Education) curriculum while introducing fresh content and innovative learning approaches. This webinar offers an overview of the Collection Management series, the first series of the LiFT courses. Understand the findings from WebJunction’s surveys of the field regarding core library skill needs; become familiar with topics in the LiFT Collection Management courses and how they address core foundational skills; and learn how to create a staff development plan using the LiFT courses. Join this webinar to find out how the Collection Management LiFT courses can be used to empower staff and enhance library services. This webinar is designed for public library staff—from front-line workers to directors and managers, state library continuing education staff, and anyone involved in staff training or in collection development. 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.
