Upcoming Opportunities
These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
In-Person Amigos Library Services Courses at Austin Public Library
Join us for two exclusive in-person workshops hosted at the Austin Public Library. Each workshop requires a separate registration. Please note that these in-person workshops are only available to Amigos members.
Book Repair Basics
April 29, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Preservation expert Rebecca Elder will guide attendees through repair techniques for paper and books and will provide guidance for setting up a repair workspace, understanding book repair terminology, and engaging a conservator. This course requires a $75 supply fee.
Customer Service Basics
April 29 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Join CES Manager Chris Pryor and Library Services Trainer Kyla Hunt in this in-person workshop on Customer Service Basics. Together, attendees will identify barriers to effectively communicating with patrons and develop a strategy for staff to practice their customer service skills.
For more information, visit the events’ webpage.
#ARSL2026 Work Exchange
April 30, 2026
This program is available for all students enrolled in a library program, certification, or course and offers complimentary conference registration in exchange for approximately 10 hours of work at the Association for Rural & Small Libraries Conference in one of the following work exchange positions: Photographer, Tech Assistant, Front Desk Support, Exhibit Hall Support, Room Wrangler, and Keynote Wrangler. Please note that this covers the cost of Conference Registration only, not lodging, travel, or preconference workshops. For more information, peruse the application form.
This program is available for all students enrolled in a library program, certification, or course and offers complimentary conference registration in exchange for approximately 10 hours of work at the Association for Rural & Small Libraries Conference in one of the following work exchange positions: Photographer, Tech Assistant, Front Desk Support, Exhibit Hall Support, Room Wrangler, and Keynote Wrangler. Please note that this covers the cost of Conference Registration only, not lodging, travel, or preconference workshops. For more information, peruse the application form.
Photo Contest
April 30, 2026
Spring has arrived and April is a great month to celebrate small and rural libraries everywhere! ARSL is excited to launch the first-ever Association for Rural & Small Libraries Spring Photo Contest. From April 1 through April 30, library professionals are invited to share photos that capture their library life. Submissions can include programs, community engagement, library spaces, and professional development or networking moments. Everyday moments and standout events alike are welcome. Three winners will be selected. One grand prize winner will receive a complimentary ARSL annual membership and two additional winners will receive a 50% discount on an annual membership. For more information, peruse the association news feed.
EBSCO Solar Grant
April 30, 2026
Submissions are now open for the 2026 EBSCO Solar grant program from EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO). Entering its eleventh year, EBSCO continues its commitment to sustainability by offering grants that fund solar installations at libraries around the world. As part of the 2026 EBSCO Solar initiative, EBSCO will award a total of $300,000 in grants to help libraries reduce energy costs and highlight the benefits of renewable energy. Since its inception, EBSCO has awarded more than three million dollars through the EBSCO Solar grant program. For more information, visit the grant press release.
Hart Family Fund for Small Towns
May 1, 2026
Grants from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects in small towns with populations of 10,000 or less. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. Grants from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns generally range from $2,500 to $15,000. The selection process is very competitive. For more information, visit the grant website.
Small Library, Big Impact
May 5-7, 2026
FREE to TLA members, this two-part series is and empowers small libraries to build partnerships and communicate their value to stakeholders effectively. For more information, visit the event registration page.
Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Internship
May 11, 2026
Do you know any current undergraduate or graduate students—or recent college graduates (within six months)—preparing for employment or further studies in education, library science, history or museum studies? Would they like to gain valuable, collaborative work experience by exploring educational resources, applying learning strategies, and connecting through partnerships? If so, please encourage them to apply for a Fall 2026 Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Internship with the Library of Congress! Applications will be accepted through May 11, 2026. Visit the Library’s website for details.
2026 Continuing Education Survey
May 13, 2026
The Continuing Education and Consulting team (CEC) at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission is committed to providing high-quality training to Texas library staff. Their vision is for all library staff to have the training they need to provide Texans with exceptional library service. CEC would love to hear from Texas public library workers about the training topics that are most important to them. Please set aside ten minutes to complete the TSLAC Public Library Continuing Education Survey. If you have any questions, contact the CEC team at LD@tsl.texas.gov
Journey for Good Foundation
May 15, 2026
The Journey For Good Foundation strengthens North American communities by addressing the root causes of poverty. Funding focuses on improving access to food, stable housing, education, workforce development, and support for veterans and their families. The Foundation is particularly interested in projects that create lasting, holistic impact at the local level. Collaborative and community-centered initiatives are strongly encouraged. For more information, visit the foundation’s grants page.
Measuring trust: How to collect meaningful and actionable data
May 28, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
Trust is such an important part of a library’s work. Join us to hear IREX and several libraries discuss experiments they ran with trust-building programs and leave with some tips and tools for measuring trust in your library. For more information, visit the event’s webpage.
Bookmobile Grants
August 15, 2026
The Lois Lenski Covey 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. For more information, visit the bookmobile grants pages on the foundation’s website.
Texas America250 Reading Challenge
December 31, 2026
The Texas Center for the Book and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission are inviting Texans statewide to log 2,500 minutes (about 41 hours) of reading, exploring Texas state parks, or giving back through service between January 1 and December 31, 2026. The Texas America250 Reading Challenge is self-reported, and readers who complete the challenge earn a special certificate. For more information, visit the event web page.
Ongoing Tools
These tools are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Running an Effective Meeting (webinar)
Have you ever been in a meeting and wondered why you were invited? Or felt frustrated because no one followed the agenda? Maybe you’ve been in a meeting where there wasn’t an agenda, or you could have gotten the information in an email. If you’ve been in a bad meeting, you know how frustrating it can be. Badly run meetings waste time, lower morale, and suck employee energy. And the damage isn’t just limited to individuals. Bad meetings can slow decision-making and reduce the quality of work in your organization. But meetings don’t have to be bad. Good meetings connect people so they can collaborate, plan, and share information. Running a good meeting can motivate and energize your team, resulting in better decisions and happier employees. A few simple strategies can help you plan and facilitate meetings that work for everyone. For more information, visit the webinar homepage.
Enhancing Library Services for Spanish-Speaking Communities (course)
In this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to effectively serve Spanish-speaking patrons in your library. Designed for library staff at all levels, this course focuses on practical language skills, cultural competency, and library service strategies to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic and Latine populations in your community. By the end of this course, you will feel more confident in your ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking patrons, understand their unique cultural needs, and implement strategies to improve library services and resources that are accessible to all. For more information, visit the course homepage.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) 101 (tutorial)
This tutorial provides an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) considerations when interacting with it and prompting. For more information, visit the tutorial homepage.
Partnership with Reader Zone
Partners for Rural Impact Rural Library Network is collaborating with Reader Zone to help member libraries carry out high-participation reading programs for their communities during the summer of 2026. Reader Zone is a web-based reading program management system that allows libraries to build flexible reading programs for all ages of patrons. Reader Zone includes both access to an administrative dashboard for library staff and a mobile app that patrons can use to engage with library programs. Those that would like to use the Reader Zone platform at no cost, will need to sign-up for the free Rural Library Network membership, if they are not already. Then, register to participate in the program via this form.
Consulting Services: Data and Project Coordination
Are you curious about how to use your library’s data, but not sure where to start? Promise Madu, TSLAC’s Data and Project Coordinator, is available for one-on-one consulting to discuss all things data. Use this link to his calendar to book some time with Promise now.
Inviting emerging adults into the library: Lessons from El Paso’s Centre Future (webinar)
El Paso Public Library’s Centre Future blends mentorship, technology, and community in ways that traditional classrooms and job centers often cannot. Learn new ideas from Center Future’s youth fellows about how libraries can position themselves as an important part of emerging adults’ lives. For more information, visit the webinar homepage.
Programming with Your Library of Things (webinar)
Join us for a practical, idea-rich session on how to design and deliver programs that put your Library of Things to work. Participants will hear real-world programming examples spanning disaster preparedness, workforce development, local food security, multi-generational engagement, and “stealth” sustainability initiatives, and leave with adaptable strategies for turning collections into meaningful, mission-aligned experiences. For more information, visit the webinar homepage.
Strengthening Cataloging Skills with the new LiFT course series
WebJunction is excited to announce the publication of three new LiFT (Library Foundational Training) courses to complete the new Library Catalog series: Introduction to the Library Catalog, Classification and Call Numbers, Subject Headings, and Copy Cataloging. For more information, peruse the series announcement
Finding Your Voice: Public Speaking Tips for Library Staff
Does your heart race or your palms sweat when you think about public speaking? You’re not alone. Most people experience some degree of fear regarding public speaking. But public speaking is a key skill you need—and you can learn. All library staff should be able to talk publicly about the library’s value. For more information, read the full article.
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.
