TSLAC’s LIFI Grant Kicks Off With Assessment Phase: What Texas Public Libraries Need to Know

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…

Closing the Digital Divide: TSLAC’s Digital Navigator Program

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…

TLA Digital Conversations Wrap-Up in Alpine and Wichita Falls

The Texas Library Association’s “Digital Conversations” concluded their 2024 statewide tour in Alpine and Wichita Falls this past month. The conversation covered topics such as digital literacy, telehealth, grant funding, broadband accessibility, and the many ways libraries can bring digital opportunity to their communities. Both events were attended by community stakeholders, including government officials, local librarians,…

TLA Digital Conversation Lands in Clute, Texas

The Texas Library Association’s “Digital Conversations” tour stopped in Clute, Texas on May 9, at the Brazosport Center for the Arts. The panelists presented some of their programs and work, highlighting the need to close the digital divide. With people participating from Brazoria County, Clute, and the Houston area, the event was well-attended, and a…