On the last Thursday of most months, the Innovation and Technology Round Table (ITRT) of the Texas Library Association (TLA) hosts a series of FREE half-hour Zoom “Tech Chats” featuring the innovative, award-winning work of Texas libraries and some quick overviews of the latest emerging technologies through a library lens. All Texas library staff are…
The E-rate Application Window for 2025 closes on March 26 (with the first form due mid-February), so act now! If you’re from an accredited public library and want to apply for this funding, TSLAC offers free E-rate consultants as part of its Libraries Connecting Texas (LCT) program. Please contact Henry Stokes at LDO@tsl.texas.gov as soon as…
As the Library Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator at TSLAC, I went to the Library Marketing and Communications Conference in St. Louis last November. While there, I was able to participate in many sessions covering social media, fundraising, outreach, and other marketing efforts at libraries all over the country. In my final session, I saw…
Texas libraries are stepping up to meet an essential community need: access to healthcare. Thanks to innovative partnerships and funding, telehealth pods are now offering rural residents a lifeline to critical medical services. This groundbreaking project highlights how libraries continue to evolve as pillars of their communities, offering resources far beyond books. The Power of…
The 2024 Library Marketing and Communication Conference held November 13-14 in St. Louis, Missouri, brought together hundreds of library marketers from across the nation to share best practices, creative strategies, and inspiring success stories. The event covered topics ranging from social media and email marketing to fundraising and outreach—all crucial for today’s libraries striving to…
This past Summer, researchers at Texas A&M University, along with non-profit Community Action Inc. of Central Texas (CAI), published an article on adult literacy in Texas. This study examined how Texas adult education and literacy (AEL) programs integrate technology, highlighting both successes and challenges. It used interviews with program directors to identify factors that enhance…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities 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 a survey requesting input for the 2028 slogan and 2029 theme. Read the CSLP newsletter online or subscribe and receive it in your inbox each month. Awards, Scholarships,…
As part of our on-going commitment to promoting digital literacy efforts in libraries across the state of Texas, TSLAC’s Library Digital Opportunity team goes to libraries and films interviews with librarians and staff to document their work in the community. We recently visited libraries in La Grange and Houston to see how they are helping…
Earlier this year, we did a spotlight on the Amarillo Public Library’s incredible digital literacy initiative. During that conversation, we learned about Emma, the city’s “digital human.” The first of its kind, Emma is an AI avatar, fluent in more than 60 languages, tasked with answering questions about city services and news. Micheal Keough, the…
On October 10, the Library Digital Opportunity team (LDO) held a kick-off webinar with E-Rate Central for the upcoming 2025 E-Rate Funding Year. E-rate is a federal discount program available to accredited public libraries that pays up to 90% of broadband costs. While that is an amazing benefit, it can be challenging to complete the…