Last year, you nominated small businesses, and now seven GRIT Awardees will be celebrated at the GRIT Award Showcase! There, small businesses will share their stories of innovation and resilience, so pass on the online-event details below with your communities. Who knows? What is learned on April 25 could inspire someone to finally launch their…
We are pleased to announce the release of a new report, “Texas Public Libraries: Serving Communities to Enhance Digital Literacy.” Expanding the ability of individuals to access and use information and communication technologies is increasingly crucial for Texas citizens, communities, and economic success. This digital capacity is achieved through building digital literacy skills; providing access…
Did your library have a public funding vote in the years 2010-2022? Libraries in Community Systems wants to know about it! (https://forms.gle/PPDWDXCtwasjA8KC7, survey live through February 2023). Over the last 18 months the Libraries in Community Systems project team has heard from a lot of librarians that the value of their public library extends beyond…
The FY24 Texas Reads Competitive Grant Program will open for application on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Grant guidelines for the program, as well as specific information about the application process, past recipients, and additional resources are on the TSLAC Grants and Funding page. Applications will be due Friday, March 3, 2023. Accredited Texas public and…
As you review the administrative tools your library uses to manage services and programming, consider leveraging online resources to maximize your efforts. In the following interview, fellow library worker Kate Guynn explains why Beanstack was the best fit for her library. *** Question 1: What online tool are you promoting? Question 2: How did you…
As you review the administrative tools your library uses to manage services and programming, consider leveraging online resources to maximize your efforts. In the following interview, fellow library worker Crystal Swimmer explains how a reading tracker did so much more for her community than merely log activity. *** Question 1: What online tool are you…
Naturally, libraries are part of the public workforce system, and libraries can strengthen and further the progress and the prosperity of their communities by supporting local business owners and encouraging the growth of local and small business. Simply put, the success of local businesses creates a positive ripple effect in that it boosts local economies…
As you review the administrative tools your library uses to manage services and programming, consider leveraging online resources to maximize your efforts. In the following interview, fellow library worker Rebecca Ivey explains how what began as a seasonal offering quickly became a staple in the library’s suite of services. *** Question 1: What online tool…
This summer, consider focusing on teen mental health by incorporating the following recommendations and resources outlined by Patrick Lloyd, TSLAC’s Community Resilience Consultant. *** Even before the covid-19 pandemic, many teenagers were struggling. Sadly, data collected well before the covid -19 pandemic indicates that most of us experience childhood trauma. For many, these traumas stay…
As you may have recently read in State Librarian Gloria Meraz’s recent Director’s Report blog post, TSLAC has begun work on a number of historic initiatives to meet the digital equity needs of Texans. One that requires your assistance most importantly is a study to better understand digital literacy in Texas public libraries entitled Texas…