Public Library Accreditation and Statistics

Texas Public Library Accreditation

Public libraries are accredited in the Government Code 441.127(a), Library Systems, under the authority of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Minimum Standards for Accreditation in the State Library System (new link)

Links to Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Part 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter C, Minimum Standards for Accreditation in the State Library System.  Adopted by the Texas State Library & Archives Commission on November 7, 2014; effective November 30, 2014.

Benefits of Accreditation (PDF)

E-rate Eligibility: To be eligible for these discounts, a library applicant must meet the statutory definition of library or library consortium found in the 1996 Library Services and Technology Act (Pub. L. 104-208) (LSTA) and must be eligible for assistance from a state library administrative agency under that Act.  In Texas, a library must be accredited. For more information about accreditation, please contact LDN staff at accreditation@tsl.texas.gov.

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Accreditation Minimum Standards Review: Texas State Library Staff will conduct surveys and evaluation of all minimum standards for public library accreditation during 2023 and 2024. Final rules to be adopted in early 2025.

Texas Library Association (TLA) Public Library Standards: These voluntary Texas Public Library Standards developed through the Texas Library Association are intended as an assessment and guide to levels of service for public libraries in Texas.