After months and countless miles on the road, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s (TSLAC) Continuing Education and Consulting (CEC) team wrapped up the spring regional workshop series with a final stop at Lewisville Public Library on May 20. Over the course of eight two-day workshops held across Texas—from Alpine to Harlingen, Tyler to…
Frisco Public Library has long been a trailblazer when it comes to emerging technologies, from 3D printing to award-winning, take-home tech kits for patrons to play around with AI. Now, they’ve added another “dimension” with their first public class on 4D printing, a cutting-edge field that fuses fabrication with time-based transformations. What Is 4D Printing?…
Libraries across Texas are redefining what it means to serve their communities—and Grapevine Public Library is leading the way. During a recent monthly “Tech Chat” hosted by the Texas Library Association (TLA)’s Innovation and Technology Round Table (ITRT), Assistant Library Director Chad Hetterley shared some of the programs they’ve launched, all rooted in a culture…
When Cynthia Soll and Rachel Kramer from McLennan Community College (MCC) Library in Waco began experimenting with AI, they weren’t intending to lead a tech revolution; their main focus was just trying to save time. Like many library staff across Texas, they wear a lot of hats. So when they saw an opportunity to use…
In Hughes Springs, Texas, known for beautiful spring wildflower trails and its quiet small-town charm, something big is happening inside the local library—and it involves robots, rockets, and a whole lot of imagination. Under the leadership of Library Director Shannon Perez, the Hughes Springs Area Public Library is redefining what’s possible in rural public library…
In the small Texas town of Pottsboro, population just over 2,000, the public library is helping teens launch their careers—literally. Last summer, Pottsboro Public Library offered an innovative workforce development program called Taking Flight: Preparing for a Career in Drone Technology. Funded by a grant from Atmos Energy and Simmons Bank, this five-week course introduced…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time dedicated to raising awareness and reducing stigma around mental health issues. While most people might turn to therapists, clinics, or nonprofits for support, one valuable resource may be closer than they think: their public library. While I was attending the Texas Library Association conference in Dallas last month,…
The results are in! Compare your internet speeds to other libraries across the state and see the year-over-year trends. The good news is—efforts like those by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) to increase library internet speeds in Texas public libraries are working, though there is still much work to be done. More…
Libraries have long been champions of expanding access to books, and digital platforms like Hoopla Digital, Libby, Audible, Boundless, or Scribd help make that possible. With a few taps, readers can borrow e-books and audiobooks from their local libraries, making literature more accessible than ever. With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), libraries have found…
We are excited to announce the opening of the TSLAC Library Infrastructure Facility Improvement (LIFI) Grant Program which funds broadband infrastructure and facility improvements in Texas public libraries. These improvements are designed to enhance internet connectivity, improve technology infrastructure, and ensure broad access to digital resources for library patrons by funding projects that enable work,…