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…
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) Library Development and Networking Division (LDN) is headed to Dallas for the 2025 TLA Annual Conference and several members of our staff will be presenting. We’ll be sharing some exciting updates on our programs and initiatives so mark these in your calendar. For in-depth session descriptions, just…
There are thousands of jobs in fields like construction, transportation and utilities that need to be filled in Texas. But for many job seekers, breaking into the skilled trades can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? What certifications do you need? And how do you connect with the right employers? Pflugerville Public Library is helping…
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…
Join us May 9, at 9:30 a.m., for a free, in-person event for anyone interested or involved in expanding digital access or literacy and the role that libraries can play in this effort, including librarians, civic leaders, broadband suppliers, and workforce advocates. We’ll discuss how to build and strengthen relationships to better serve our communities.…
Did you know that Texas was named Best State for Business 19 years in a row so far, and that according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2023 Small Business Profile, 99.8% of businesses in Texas are small businesses, which create opportunities for 44.5% of Texas employees (4.9 million workers)? As the chart to the…
If you’re preparing to enter in the 2024 Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference (EntreLib) Pitch Competition, or if you’re eager to learn the art of delivering a powerful pitch to secure funding for your business development, entrepreneurship, and economic development initiatives, watch the recording of EntreLib’s Pitch Perfect Workshop, and here are just a few takeaways…
It’s that time again! Time to compete against libraries across the nation in a pitch competition to win a prize to launch or support your idea that will aid local entrepreneurs, small businesses, job creation, and economic development! Submissions for the pitch competition are open now! Mark your calendars with these important dates for the…
Looking for a networking or a new professional development opportunity? Keep an eye out for the next time that the Governor’s Small Business Summit is in your area. The Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office (EDT) hosts numerous events of this kind throughout the year. Just in the past few months, they went to Beaumont,…