{"id":33204,"date":"2025-06-11T08:41:52","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T13:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/?p=33204"},"modified":"2025-06-13T08:14:56","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T13:14:56","slug":"tslac-wraps-up-spring-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/2025\/06\/11\/tslac-wraps-up-spring-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Librarians Learn, Connect, and Grow: TSLAC Wraps Up Statewide Spring Workshop Series in Lewisville"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After months and countless miles on the road, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission\u2019s (TSLAC) Continuing Education and Consulting (CEC) team<\/a> wrapped up the spring regional workshop series with a final stop at Lewisville Public Library on May 20. Over the course of eight two-day workshops held across Texas\u2014from Alpine to Harlingen, Tyler to El Paso\u2014TSLAC trained 314 librarians and staff from 97 libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each stop brought together local library professionals for hands-on learning, idea-sharing, and practical training on two timely issues: de-escalation strategies and circulation policy development. The topics were chosen based on last year\u2019s CE survey. <\/a>Along the way, attendees also heard from local mental health authorities<\/a> and regional Workforce Solutions<\/a> representatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One participant in Amarillo stated how grateful they were that the Continuing Education and Consulting Team traveled all the way out to the Panhandle because they didn\u2019t have the budget or ability to leave their libraries for events like the annual Texas Library Association (TLA) conference and that these workshops were such a great alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n

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De-Escalation Skills for Library Staff<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When tensions rise in public spaces, library staff often find themselves on the front lines. That\u2019s why one day of each workshop focused on trauma-informed de-escalation strategies. By exploring hypothetical scenarios, attendees learned new techniques and tools and even shared their own de-escalation stories after breaking off into discussion groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWho would have thought I\u2019d have to use this training the very next day<\/em>? I can\u2019t tell you how much it helped,\u201d one library director shared.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Participants practiced new communication tools, learned how to recognize signs of trauma, and discussed real-world challenges from their own libraries. Many left the session saying they felt more confident and equipped to handle difficult interactions with the public.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Library staff participate in an activity at the Harlingen workshop<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Rethinking the Rules\u2014Circulation Policies That Serve Communities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The other day of the workshop took a deep dive into a topic that shapes every patron\u2019s library experience: the circulation policy. Library staff and directors explored questions like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n