Every September, a familiar rhythm returns: a new state fiscal year begins, the school year hits its stride, and libraries nationwide celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month. It’s a time to invite people of all ages to get a free library card and discover the wealth of resources, services, and opportunities waiting for them. You can…
For more than three decades, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) has invested in the success of Texas libraries of every size. One of its most impactful professional development initiatives has been the Small Library Management Training Program (SLM), created in 1994 to provide practical management training for library staff serving small communities.…
Community-Centered Library Connections: Three Texas Stories of Libraries Leading with Purpose Libraries are often at their best when they help communities see new possibilities in the places they already call home. Whether connecting families with the wildlife in a nearby bay, turning a library card into a gateway to community experiences, or creating welcoming spaces…
At the 2026 Texas Library Association Annual Conference, I had the privilege of leading a discussion on marketing yourself as a library professional. Although the session took place over the course of an hour, the ideas behind it had been years in the making. What began as scattered thoughts gradually evolved through conversations with my…
Library-Centered Community Discovery: Two Texas Summer Learning Stories Libraries across Texas are proving that summer reading is about much more than books during the 2026 Unearth a Story Summer Reading Program. By combining literacy with hands-on experiences, libraries help communities turn curiosity into engagement and learning into lasting memories. The following success stories illustrate how…
Library-Centered Community Connection: Three Texas Library Stories Libraries are more than buildings filled with books—they are gathering places where communities connect, celebrate, learn, and grow together. Across Texas, libraries are creating programs that respond directly to the needs of their communities, building stronger relationships across generations and ensuring that people of all ages feel welcomed…
Library-Led Community Impact: Three Texas Library Stories Opening Doors | Montgomery County Memorial Library System (Spring, TX) In Montgomery County, a community eager for stability and opportunity, residents found themselves navigating the uncertainty of job seeking and struggling to connect with trustworthy employers and meaningful work. Recognizing this need, the Central Library of the Montgomery…
Libraries as Catalysts for Community Leadership: Three Texas Library Stories Transforming Concern into Coordinated Action | Claud H. Gilmer Memorial Library (Rocksprings, TX) In the small community of Rocksprings and the surrounding Hill Country—where neighbors double as coaches, volunteers, and caregivers—families searched for a way to recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and a place 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…
Palacios Library | Palacios , TX At Palacios Library, leadership starts with listening. “Our success has been our availability for whatever is needed to keep our library afloat and be willing to help out our small town in any way we can,” says Head Librarian Vikijane Mosier. That spirit of responsiveness has guided the library’s…