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…
The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) held their annual conference on Oct. 22, 2024, at the Palmer Center in Austin, Texas. The focus of the conference was all about exploring data and technology’s impact on government agencies and organizations. In the opening remarks, Doug Robinson of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers…
The Innovation and Technology Round Table (ITRT) of the Texas Library Association (TLA) aims to promote and improve the use of innovation and other technologies in Texas libraries. On the last Thursday of each month, ITRT holds informal, half-hour Lunch & Learn chats about an innovation and technology topic via the TLA’s Zoom room. Starting…
The Library Infrastructure Facility Improvement (LIFI) grant is entering the first phase of assessments. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is inviting a select number of small rural public libraries in Texas who reported slow speeds on TSLAC’s annual Texas Public Library Speed Test to receive a free IT assessment that will determine…
In 2021-22, The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) awarded one-year American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants to 10 Texas public libraries to support Digital Navigator programs. Afterwards, TSLAC funded a research study by UT Austin’s Technology and Information Policy Institute (TIPI) to evaluate the grant. The researchers, Sharon Strover, Whitney Nelson, and Sheila…
E-rate is a federal discount program available to accredited public libraries that pays up to 90% of broadband costs, but we at TSLAC know the process to complete an application like this can be daunting. TSLAC is continuing its support of libraries this year in applying for E-Rate. The project, called Libraries Connecting Texas (LCT),…
When I visited Wichita Falls three months ago for a TLA (Texas Library Association) Digital Conversation event, I made sure I had enough time to visit the public library. Angela Fortin, the library’s Technology Specialist, was kind enough to give me a walking tour. In my work at LDO (Library Digital Opportunity), I’m always fascinated…