Library Technology Academy

Welcome to Library Technology Academy!

The Library Technology Academy is training program from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) to educate and prepare public library staff to be strategic managers of their library’s technology. It uses an intutive online learning platform to enable library staff more time, guidance, and individualized attention to support technology planning and management. This 8-week online training is led by nationally-known technology trainer, Carson Block, and is unique to Texas and its focus on small and rural libraries.

Affter the 8-week online training, each selected library will design and implement a technology project supported by a reimbursement grant of up to $10,000 per library. This training grant aims to assist libraries in small and rural areas serving populations of 30,000 or less and prioritizes those libraries serving high-poverty communities.

The Library Technology Academy seeks to deliver the following outcomes:

• Participants implement strategic technology management processes and procedures.
• Participants examine technology decision-making through a digital inclusion lens.
• Participants formulate a library technology project that demonstrates their knowledge of resource sustainability and stewardship.
• Participants identify themselves as someone capable of knowing, using, and contributing to the wider library technology community.

Part One: Training (online) – October 2020 – December 2020

• Learn strategies, processes, and tools for managing library technology using current technology trends and tried-and-true best practices.
• Collect information about their community to better understand user needs.
• Collect information about the library’s technology and usage to create a library technology inventory.
• Conduct a user experience audit of current library technology systems and procedures.

   Part Two: Project Development – December 2020 – March 2021

• Formulate a technology project in the form of a grant proposal that addresses a need revealed through previous coursework.
• Compile potential resources and services to be purchased during project implementation.
• Discuss project plans with fellow academy participants, with trainer, and with LTA program manager.
• Submit project grant proposal through the TSLAC Grants Management System and receive feedback from past Library Technology Academy participants.
• Draft a library technology plan using the technology inventory.

   Part Three: Project Implementation – September 2021 – August 2022

• Implement the project using funds to be reimbursed by TSLAC (up to $10,000) and the strategies, processes and tools subrecipients learned through Part One of the program. 
• Update their library technology plan to reflect changes implemented from their technology project.
• Report on and assess the project at its conclusion to measure the impact and learn where improvements can be made.

Application Announcement

Applications for the 3rd round of Library Technology Academy are closed.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is excited to announce the opening of the Library Technology Academy grant application! TSLAC is looking for ten qualified libraries serving communities with populations under 30,000 to participate in this grant program.

This grant will provide funding for the equipment and training necessary for each library to purchase materials and services to implement a project informed by library management strategies and best practices as outlined in the Library Technology Academy training. TSLAC will work in collaboration with selected libraries to approve projects proposed.

Expectations: If chosen to participate, libraries will select two participants per library to attend the training.   At least one representative should be a full-time, paid staff member (director, assistant director or manager). The other participant may be another library staff member (full or part-time of the same library) or a library volunteer, city/county I.T. person or community partner of the same library.  

Participants should expect to take part in a eight (8) week synchronous online training program and dedicate approximately 15 percent of their time during the grant period to complete project deliverables.

Funding: Following the training, TSLAC and Library Technology Academy will provide funding support up to $10,000 to participating libraries to buy supplies necessary to launch a library technology project location at their facility.

Application Process: We will begin accepting applications on Monday, August 31, 2020. The application can be accessed after logging into the TSLAC Grants Management System. Successful applicants will be notified in early October 2020.

Training:  The online training will run from mid-October - early December 2020. It will consist of the following:

• Intensive LIVE introductory training:
  • Monday, October 19th: 10am - 4pm and Friday, October 23rd, 10am - 1pm
     
• Weekly LIVE one hour trainings during the following weeks. The day and time of the training will be decided by participant consensus after attendees meet for the introductory training.
  • Week of Oct 26
  • Week of Nov 2
  • Week of Nov 9
  • Week of Nov 16
  • Week of Nov 23
  • Week of Nov 30
  • Week of Dec 7
  • Week of Dec 14

Contact Information: If you have questions about Library Technology Academy or need assistance with the application process, please contact Cindy Fisher at cfisher@tsl.texas.gov. This project is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to TSLAC under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.