When the Institute of Museum and Library Services announced the 2025 winners of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, one Texas library was still in shock. Nicholas P. Sims Library in Waxahachie, now 121 years old, has been named a national medal recipient, one of the highest honors a library can receive in…
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year was slop, as in AI slop, and it’s easy to see why. Increasingly, AI has seeped into everything, our phones, our work, our entertainment, and it’s not all good. Merriam-Webster defines AI slop as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. American Folklife Center Resources: Texas February 12, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. (Central) American Folklife Center collections from Texas display the depth of diversity found within the Lone Star State and span over a century. Beginning with the John…
When people think of genealogy libraries, they often picture quiet rooms and adults researching family trees. But at the Genealogy and Preservation Center of Montgomery County Memorial Library System in Conroe, Texas, history is an exciting activity for all ages. Thanks to the creativity and dedication of Genealogy Librarian Laura Politte, the space has become…
As we turn our attention to National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) compliance, consider the following scenario in which a well-intentioned effort to help patrons engage civically revealed how the absence of an implementation plan can lead to inconsistent practices, legal risk, and unintended harm to public trust. The Gotham Public Library—a fictional, small, rural library…
At the Clute Library in Clute, Texas, afternoons do not wind down when the school bell rings. They ramp up. Located directly across the street from the local intermediate school, the library becomes a steady stream of backpacks, laughter, and curiosity as students head over after class. For many families in this lower income community,…
When Marla Boswell talks about robotics at the Arlington Public Library, she does not describe it as a class. She describes it as an experience. After more than 25 years working with tweens and teens, Boswell has learned that the most effective learning happens when kids are fully engaged, curious, and having fun. Boswell began…
At Montgomery County’s Charles B. Stewart Library, Children’s Librarian Ally Graves has built a reputation for transforming everyday curiosity into unforgettable learning experiences. Her recent Bubble Lab, part of her STEAM series, drew a record crowd and even required an impromptu second session. The secret behind the success goes far beyond soap and water. It comes…
“Chicago Sun-Times Prints AI-Generated Summer Reading List With Books That Don’t Exist” read the headline. I knew that by now, three and a half years after ChatGPT had been released, AI had permeated most aspects of our lives including the workplace, but I was stunned to see it so blatantly outed for the world to…
Community Partnerships as Leadership in Action: Three Texas Library Stories Expanding Capacity Through Strategic Collaboration | Unger Memorial Library (Plainview, TX) Community partnerships aren’t just a programming strategy—they’re a core management and leadership practice that allows libraries to extend their capacity when space, staffing, or funding are limited. Unger Memorial Library’s collaboration with PBS Kids…