We have received many questions regarding how libraries throughout the state of Texas are providing services to the public. To help answer these questions, we are starting a blog post series titled Yes, We’re Open, which will interview library directors and workers throughout the state to provide snapshots in library response. In this first installment…
A recent scientific study from the Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Project has found that the COVID-19 Virus was undetectable on the following items after three days: Hardback book cover (buckram cloth) Softback book cover Plain paper pages inside a closed book Plastic book covering (biaxially oriented polyester film) DVD case The Reopening Archives, Libraries, and…
Libraries throughout the state of Texas provide invaluable services to their patrons both in and out of their buildings through analog and virtual means. Many libraries in Texas are currently going through the process of reopening their physical locations following COVID-19 related closures. As we have received many questions regarding reopening strategies, we wanted to…
The following post is from State Librarian Mark Smith’s blog, The Director’s Report. It is a hard time to be library worker. When much of society went home to shelter in place in mid-March, most library staff did the same. By late March, most Texas libraries were closed. TSLAC closed its public reading rooms on…
On Fridays I plan to spotlight an emerging technology that has been pushed by the COVID-19 pandemic into more mainstream use, sometimes in ways that may seem surreal. A bevy of wearables are being developed to help curb the effects of the disease. Here are a few examples and their intended uses: To support social…
The deadline to apply for the TSLAC CARES Grant Program is approaching soon! The first round of funding is closing on Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Please be sure to submit your completed applications and all required documents by the deadline. The goal of the TSLAC CARES Grant Program is to: Fund the…
On Fridays I plan to spotlight an emerging technology that has been pushed by the COVID-19 pandemic into more mainstream use, sometimes in ways that may seem surreal. Today I’d like to point out nine ways that ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) is getting deployed to assist with the current crisis. (For more general info about AI…
On Fridays I plan to spotlight an emerging technology that has been pushed by the COVID-19 pandemic into more mainstream use, sometimes in ways that may seem surreal. ROBOTS: They’re perfect for doing jobs that are too dangerous for humans to do. So now is the perfect time to deploy them for a variety of…
On Friday, May 8, 2020, TSLAC Grants Administrator and Erica McCormick, TSLAC Program Coordinator, provided a webinar to cover the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) CARES Grant Program. In this webinar, our TSLAC staff provided a funding overview, as well as important details about the grant program and award information. They also answered…
The current COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges to all library staff, including library managers. To reflect these challenges, we interviewed library managers last week from around the state to see how they are handling the changes. Special thanks to: Valerie Jensen, Chambers County Library System Allison Shimek, Fayette Public Library Judith Bergeron, Smithville Public Library…