Letter from the Executive Director

I am pleased to present the 2015-2016 Biennial Report of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The TSLAC mission is “to provide Texans access to information needed to be informed, productive citizens.” Whether it is a student using a library maker space to learn new technology skills, a person with a visual or physical impairment receiving recorded books, a citizen seeking public records from a state or local agency, or a researcher exploring history or genealogy, TSLAC helps meet the information needs of millions of Texans.

During the last two years, TSLAC has sought innovative new ways to provide information services to Texans both directly and via Texas libraries and local governments, including the following:

• In 2016, with support from the Texas Legislature and the Governor’s Office, we launched the Texas Digital Archive, the first-ever repository of Texas government archives in electronic format.
• With appropriations in the 2015 session, TSLAC added significant new online information resources for millions of TexShare and TexQuest users via virtually every Texas public, K-12, and academic library.
• In 2015 we launched operations of the Texas Center for the Book at TSLAC to offer exciting new programs to encourage literacy, reading, and library use across the state.
• We continued our transition to digital format of materials used by customers of our Talking Book Program and began uploading materials we recorded in Texas for use by blind and physically handicapped readers.

The ever increasing shift from hard copy to digital formats represents a challenge, but also an opportunity for all our programs to extend crucial information resources to Texans in all parts of the state.

Libraries, archives, and public records programs are a great value. TSLAC services leverage state buying power and local expenditures to provide cost-effective access to the information that Texans need to be successful in school, at work, and in their personal lives. Based on 2015 data from the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Texas, libraries return $4.64 for $1 invested. TexShare and TexQuest resources provide access to crucial information at one-tenth the cost if purchased locally. State agencies save over $100 million in cost avoidance each year by storing non-current records with our agency. And these measures do not begin to capture the incalculable ROI that derives from open access to government and to reading and information programs provided or supported by our agency.

I am honored to work with a dedicated commission and an outstanding team of motivated professionals who work hard to provide outstanding library, archives, and records services to every person in Texas.

 

Sincerely,

Mark Smith, Director and Librarian
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

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Introduction -  An Information Society

Access to information is just the first step in maintaining an informed society. State government must equip an increasingly diversified population to negotiate educational needs, complex global communications, and a competitive job market. To do so requires a robust infrastructure for learning and making best use of today’s broad information assets and educational resources. The real currency today is knowledge.

People need the resources, skills, and support to convert information intake into knowledge output.  That outcome translates into meeting school standards, starting up a business, engaging communities in meaningful discourse, ensuring public records are managed effectively, fostering open government, bringing primary documents into the learning equation, preserving Texas history, helping individuals find jobs, and so much more.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission reaches almost every Texan in multiple ways throughout their lives. By supporting education, cultural, and government organizations, as well as serving the public directly, TSLAC equips communities and people with resources, training, and programs. The agency’s work in library development, statewide digital content, archives, preservation, state and local records management, broadband and technology, services to the visually disabled, literacy, and community engagement form an integrated network of intellectual assets and services to help Texans lead informed lives.

Who We Serve

• Over 24 million people  served by Texas public libraries
• Over 5 million K–12 students
• 1 million teachers, administrators, and support  staff in our K–12 schools
• 2 million students and faculty in Texas institutions of higher education
• Businesses, entrepreneurs, non-profit groups (such as literacy coalitions), and researchers and historians who rely on Texas libraries and archives
• Thousands of researchers consulting  (both online and in print) the archival resources of the State Archives
• 10,000 units of local government and 159 state agencies that are served by the government records consultants who train records managers statewide on the legal and consistent framework for public records management  and retention, dissemination,  and access
• Over 15,000 persons with visual or other disabilities  that prevent  them from reading in traditional ways

 

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About the Texas State Library and Archives Commission

For over a century, the mission of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission has been to ensure that citizens have access to the information they need to lead informed, productive, and fulfilled lives.

We live in an information-based economy, and the continued success of the state depends on citizens’ access to information that is provided through educational programs designed to serve virtually every Texan regardless of age, geographic location, or physical ability.

Archives and Information Services – Preserves and makes accessible the archival records of Texas

Library Development and Networking – Enhances the capacity and resources of Texas public, academic, and school libraries

State and Local Records Management – Assists government agencies in maintaining public records

Talking Book Program – Serves the reading needs of Texans with disabilities

Texas Center for the Book – Stimulates public interest in books, reading, literacy, and libraries

About  Our Commission

The “Texas State Library and Archives Commission” is both the official name of the agency and the name of its governing board. The seven members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor, who also designates a chair, and are confirmed by the Texas Senate. Commissioners serve staggered six-year terms; terms begin September 1 of odd-numbered years, following each session of the Texas Legislature.

Over the nine decades of the Commission’s existence, its members have included both celebrated Texas political and civic leaders and ordinary citizens distinguished by their love of and commitment to libraries, archives, and records management.

INFORMING TEXANS THROUGH • Education & Research • Literacy • Workforce Development and Economic Opportunity • Open Government and Public Information • The Historical Record of the State • Technology and Global Communications • Informed and Innovative Communities

Impact and Initiatives  — Some Highlights from 2015-2016

Texas Digital Archive

The Texas Digital Archive manages, preserves, and facilitates access to the electronic records collections of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, including those transferred by state agencies or digitized by the State Archives. All records visible in the portal are unrestricted and available for public use.

This online repository of state electronic records, documents, and photographs is accessible online at https:// tsl.access.preservica.com/.  The agency received funding for this project in 2015 from the Governor’s Office and through the 84th Texas Legislature.

Texas Center for the Book

The Texas Center for the Book, an office of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, was established in 1987 to stimulate public interest in books, reading, literacy, and libraries. The Center, which is affiliated with the Library of Congress, builds partnerships with library professionals, educators, authors, publishers, and booksellers who promote a love of literature throughout the Lone Star State.

Transferred to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in 2015, the Texas Center for the Book sponsors the Letters About Literature program which encourages children to write to authors, the Texas Literacy Award, and the inaugural Read Across Texas campaign, which this year focuses on the veteran experience returning home.

Workforce Development Partnerships

TSLAC received a $200,000 contract from the Texas Workforce Commission to expand library engagement with local Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) programs. Funding from the grant is being used to expand efforts to provide adult education opportunities to the more than 4.3 million Texans who qualify for assistance.

The Library AEL Expansion Project will create opportunities for libraries and adult literacy providers to align efforts and build new partnerships to meet the needs of adult learners in Texas. Highlights of the project include the development of a digital literacy toolkit and webpage containing best practices and resources and the facilitation of regional workshops for libraries and literacy providers centered around training and partnership development.

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E-Records Conference

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the Texas Department of Information Resources co-sponsor this annual one-day conference for state agency and local government officials involved in the management of electronic records. This educational event seeks to improve electronic records management in Texas government through the use of statewide standards and best practices.

In the past two years, this conference has provided training to hundreds of statewide decision-makers and officials in charge of public information.

TBP BARD & Digital Download

BARD is a collection of almost 85,000 free, downloadable books, magazines, and musical scores in audio and Braille formats. Eligible, registered users of the Talking Book Program can download these materials to flash drives or hand held devices such as smart phones.

In 2006, selected TBP patrons helped the National Library Service (NLS) in its online download program as beta testers. Two years later, the NLS initiated a broader BARD pilot project. During the pilot, TBP provided input on policies for NLS. In 2009, NLS began transferring BARD administrative responsibilities including registrations and tech support to the regional libraries; TBP was one of the pilot libraries for this transition.

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Archives and Information Services

The Texas Historical Foundation continued its support of the State Archives’ efforts to preserve early Texas Supreme Court case files with $5,000 grant awards in both FY 15 and FY 16.

TSLAC SAFELY MAINTAINS MORE THAN 200 MILLION PAGES OF ARCHIVAL PAPER DOCUMENTS, ANSWERED MORE THAN 7,700 PATRON RESEARCH REQUESTS *FY2016

The Archives and Information Services Division preserves and documents the heritage and culture of Texas by identifying, collecting, and making available the official archival records of Texas government. From historical treasures (such as the first Texas Constitution and Republic era documents) to thousands of cubic feet of state records from agencies and elected officials, the holdings of the State Archives form the official record of the state. As the official and longstanding custodian of these state assets, the State Archives protects the chain of custody of these records, ensuring their long-term conservation and public availability.

The division comprises the Texas State Archives, the Library’s Reference/Documents Collection, genealogy resources, cataloging department, the Summerlee Conservation Lab, and the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty.

• Administers, preserves, and facilitates access to electronic records collections through the Texas Digital Archive
• Engages Texans through online and lobby exhibits, public programming, and educational events
• Connects people to family history resources available through the Texas Family Heritage Research Center
• Acquires, catalogs, and preserves a vast amount of archives
• Supports access to the historical records of local governments through the Regional Historical Resource Depository System

2015 – 2016 Archives and Information Services Highlights

In 2016 TSLAC launched the public access portal to the Texas Digital Archive on January 7, 2016. Staff also ingested 19 terabytes of data (approximately 532,789 individual files), representing 30 large groups of Gov. Rick Perry’s administration records and several previously digitized photograph collections into the TDA.

In 2015 staff and volunteers digitized 90 audio cassette tapes of the 1974 Carrasco hostage incident at the Huntsville main prison from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, as well as reel-to-reel audio tapes from former Lt. Governor Ben Barnes’ term in office. They also completed scanning and creating metadata for TSLAC’s collection of early fire insurance maps and began work on digitizing a large collection of fragile Civil War muster rolls.

During FY15, staff provided responses to over 2,600 written requests for information. Approximately 89% of the requests were handled in 5 or fewer working days. Archives staff arranged and described approximately 1,695 cubic feet of records and created 96 new finding aids to enhance public access.

Community Engagement

Staff outreach activities included a booth at the Austin Pow Wow, talks to the George Washington Carver Genealogy Center in Austin, the Los Bexeranos Historical and Genealogical Society in San Antonio, the Newton County Historical Commission, Beaumont Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a presentation on the Supreme Court preservation and access project at the Texas State Historical Association annual meeting, and numerous orientations, workshops, and tours.

Preserving the Past, Preparing for the Future

The agency made a number of safety, security, and functional upgrades to the Sam Houston Center, including installation of a fire suppression and detection system, removal of asbestos, renovation of the reading room, replacement of electrical panels, and the addition of a mobile glass wall in the upstairs foyer to manage the physical environment. In 2016 improvements included the installation of fencing and a new entry gate and completion of a needs assessment on the Center’s historical buildings.

Replevin

The agency continued recovering missing and alienated state government records on behalf of the citizens of Texas. Items returned to state custody over the biennium include several mid-19th century Texas Supreme Court case files, primarily dealing with slaves, a January 24, 1836 letter from Stephen F. Austin and Benjamin Archer to the Provisional Government, a Texas Confederate Home surgeon’s case book dated 1900-1906, and a receipt for $150 for two labors of land sold to Benjamin Osborn by Stephen F. Austin.

 

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Library Development and Networking

TexQuest serves approximately 800 school districts. TexShare serves 675 public libraries, community college libraries, college and university libraries, and libraries of clinical medicine. Over 100 million uses of these resources each year.

TSLAC AWARDED 1.5 MILLION IN LIBRARY GRANTS FOR FY2016. TEXANS LOVE LIBRARIES... 70 MILLION VISITS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES, OVER 6 MILLION ATTENDED LIBRARY PROGRAMS, CHECKED OUT 114 MILLION BOOKS, MAGAZINES, CDs, DVDs. *2016

The Library Development and Networking Division provides services to Texans through statewide resource sharing programs that expand the capabilities of Texas public, academic, school, and special libraries. The division also manages programs that provide training, workforce assistance, library resources, and grant funds.

• Supports school, public, and academic libraries through continuing education, training, technology services, and consultation
• Manages a statewide interlibrary loan program
• Awards state and federal grants to Texas libraries (see page 19 for listing)
• Deploys educational programming to serve children, adults, and communities

Library Development and Networking also administers the popular TexShare and TexQuest programs that provide statewide access to licensed, high-quality digital learning resources. The agency and libraries partner in this cost-effective and efficient system for sharing  library resources.

Library Development and Networking 2015-2016 Highlights

• The agency supported several initiatives and programs that offered libraries the opportunity to engage more deeply with their communities. This included support for national initiatives such as the Harwood Public Innovators Lab, and Edge, a groundbreaking assessment tool for public libraries.
• In collaboration with three other state libraries (California, Arizona, Idaho), the agency received a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grant to train Texas librarians to meet community needs by expanding their volunteer base.
• The agency developed partnerships and connected the library community to government agencies, such as the Texas Veterans Commission, Texas Health and Human Services, and nonprofit organizations including the Texas Hunger Initiative, and Reach Out and Read

Partnership with Texas Workforce Commission

TSLAC and the TWC entered into an inter-agency agreement in 2016 to foster and support partnerships between libraries and adult education and literacy providers. Building on a partnership established with Literacy Texas, the statewide literacy coalition, in 2014, the “Libraries and Literacy” project is a part of TWC’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Division initiative to align AEL efforts statewide and to facilitate the coordination of service delivery between nonprofit organizations and libraries.

Family Place Libraries ^TM

In 2015 TSLAC began offering funding for public libraries to implement the Family Place Libraries ™ program to help public libraries address early learning. Family Place Libraries ™ promotes a national model for transforming public libraries into welcoming, developmentally appropriate early learning environments for very young children, their parents, and caregivers.

Public School Libraries

TexQuest, a program of statewide electronic resources for public school libraries, serves approximately 800 districts. The agency is working with a taskforce of school librarians, the Texas Education Agency, and educators to revise the School Library Standards, and has also worked closely with the school community to help ensure robust implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. ESSA strengthens the role of the school library in student achievement through personalized learning and equitable access.

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State and Local Records Management

21,500 TRAINING HOURS *2016 - IF YOU WERE TO PLACE THE 319,000 BOXES STORED AT SLRM END-TO-END THEY WOULD STRETCH FROM AUSTIN TO SAN ANTONIO ALONG INTERSTATE 35

The State and Local Records Management Division provides an infrastructure for managing Texas public records. SLRM assists state and local officials with training, resources, guidelines, and consultation to ensure that government information is stored correctly and retained according to state laws and rules, and made accessible.

• Works with 156 state agencies and over 10,000 units of local government
• Deals with all types of public information
• Promotes practices to save taxpayer money
• Aids local governments and state agencies in meeting legal and financial requirements
• Partners to make public information available consistently and efficiently over the short and long term

SLRM works with government offices to maintain records retention programs that maximize efficiency, use cost-effective approaches, meet legal and financial requirements, preserve records of public interest, and promote transparent government. By developing core records retention specifications (that apply to all electronic, audio/visual, and print records), SLRM analysts pave the way for statewide uniformity.

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State and Local Records Management  Highlights 2015 – 2016

Training and Consulting

In FY2015-16, the Records Management Assistance unit trained or consulted with approximately 18,100 state and local government personnel through approximately 21,500 contact hours. In addition staff increased content and distribution of The Texas Record blog. Over 110 different posts on topics from class schedules to frequently asked records management questions were sent to over 1,800 members, up from 1,100 members at the end of the last biennium. The unit updated administrative rules to extend recertification periods from three to five years, allowing agencies additional time to prepare and submit their updated retention schedules for review and approval.

Online training courses were updated and 11 records management webinars were developed, delivered, and archived as another way to provide training across the state of Texas. These training materials are available for state and local government employees interested in records management training to take advantage of when convenient. TSLAC also partnered with the Texas Department of Information Resources to host the annuaL e-records conference which set attendance records each year.

Storage

At the end of FY2016, 82 agencies were storing 319,500 cubic feet of paper records, 243,000 rolls of microfilm and 1.7 million microfiche, in addition to utilizing other services provided at the State Records Center such as backup tape disaster recovery rotations and the conversion of approximately 2.9 million pages to microfilm.

Customer Service

In 2015, the agency implemented a new inventory tracking, billing, and retention system, TexLinx, for the holdings at the State Records Center that allows state agency customers to track, manage, and request their holdings. Staff created training sessions and resources including videos and tutorials to support end users and help them navigate the system to their advantage.

 

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Talking Book Program

Total patrons registered: 17,167 (2015) and 16,985 (2016)

Volumes circulated: 773,963 (2015) and 778,730 (2016)

BARD downloads: 213,947 (2015) and 223,622 (2016)

16,985 PATRONS SERVED *2016. 778,730 VOLUMES CIRCULATED *2016

The Talking Book Program (TBP) provides free library services to qualifying Texans with visual, physical, or reading disabilities. TBP is part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, a program administered by the Library of Congress.

• Provides free books and magazines in digital audio, Braille, and large print formats
• Records digital audio books with trained volunteers in state-of-the-art recording studio
• Administers personalized reader advisory services by phone to patrons across the state
• Offers comprehensive resource materials through Disability Information & Referral Center

The TBP collection consists of more than 100,000 titles, including bestsellers (fiction and nonfiction), classics, mysteries, westerns, science fiction, children’s books, biographies, books of interest to young readers, and more. Our collection also contains hundreds of titles in Spanish, and some in French, German, Russian, and other languages. Along with NLS-provided items, TBP also offers books by Texas authors, books about Texas, popular Texas periodicals, and books in Spanish, recorded by volunteers in our recording studios in Austin and Midland.

Talking Book Program 2015 – 2016 Highlights

• Texas Talking Book Program patrons are among the heaviest users of the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) in the country. One-in-four registered patrons make use of the online service.
• TBP audio staff continued to upload local recordings to the site, with approximately 100 TBP recordings available to all BARD patrons around the country. Texas Talking Book patrons also have access to materials produced by other states. During FY2015, these recordings alone were downloaded 14,094 times by TBP patrons and other BARD patrons all over the country.

Renovation and Innovation

The Talking Book Program circulation facility underwent an electrical project that provided new electrical wiring, additional data ports for more computers, and additional telephone ports for a new telephone system which will allow for Talking Book Program staff to better serve patrons across the state.

TBP Recordings Popular for Patrons of All Ages

TBP staff continued to upload recordings from the volunteer recording studio to the BARD site. Many of TBP’s older recordings, such as the Hank the Cowdog stories and popular mystery novels by writers such as Susan Wittig Albert and Bill Crider, are in high demand throughout the NLS network. Nearly 200 TBP recordings were available on BARD at the end of FY2016, and those recordings were downloaded 23,480 times in FY2016.

Call-in Book Club Series for Talking Book Program Participants

Designed for patrons of the TBP, this easy to access program allows patrons to share their reading experiences with others across the state. This service allows individuals with visual or physical challenges who cannot read standard print to share the joy of reading.

 

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Appendices

Grant Awards | Reports, Publications, and Institutes | Partnerships | Exhibits, Educational Programs, Acquisitions |

Educational and Continuing Educational Programming | About the Agency

Appendix A — TSLAC Competitive Grants

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides competitive grants supporting innovative practices that enable libraries to develop programs for special needs populations; promote cooperative services for learning and access to information; promote reading and literacy within local communities; provide seed money for new or innovative programs and services; and provide access to their special or unique holdings, and to make information about these holdings available to library users across the state.

Texas Reads Grants — FY 2015

Arlington Public Library System — Seniors to Seniors, $2,860

Corpus Christi Public Libraries — STEM Super Heroes, $3,000

Dallas Public Library — Adult Summer Reading Project, $3,000.

Irving Public Library — Little LEADers (Literacy Education and Discovery), $3,000

JR Huffman Public Library — Rock’n with Puppets! (Hemphill), $3,000

Speer Memorial Library — Morton’s Book Club (Mission), $3,000

The Library at Cedar Creek Lake — Summer Reading Program (Seven Points), $3,000

Tom Green County Library System — Every Hero has a Story: Everyday Heroes in our Lives (San Angelo), $3,000

West Public Library — Cinema Bums, $850

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Texas Reads Grants — FY 2016

Arlington Public Library System — Summer Reading Club, $3,000

Bryan/College Station Public Library System — Burlington English for Mounce Library ESL Program (Bryan), $3,000

Cedar Park Public Library — Teen Book Club, $1,790

Converse Public Library — Dia Family Book Club, $2,160

Dallas Public Library — Stay-and-Play Program, $3,000

Dublin Public Library — LIT Kits, $2,997

Longview Public Library — Author Meet and Greet with New York Times Best Selling Author Drew Daywalt, $3,000

Round Top Family Library — Kid’s Summer Enrichment and Education (Kid’s SEE), $2,970

Tom Green County Library System — On Your Mark, Get Set, Read! (San Angelo), $3,000

Tye Preston Memorial Library — English Language Class (Canyon Lake), $3,000

Watauga Public Library — Watauga Reads Together, $1,432

 

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Impact Grants — FY 2015

Alpine Public Library — EBooks for the Big Bend Region, $10,000

Arlington Public Library System — Career Advancement Program, $10,000

Balch Springs Library-Learning Center — Early Literacy Storytime and Computers, $9,000

Cedar Park Public Library — Test Drive at the Cedar Park Public Library, $9,900

Corpus Christi Public Libraries — Learn on the Run Mobile Computer Lab, $8,373

Dickinson Public Library — E-Magazines and Tablets for Public Use, $5,360

Dickinson Public Library — Early Literacy Computer Program, $9,550

Dublin Public Library — Taking Technology to Businesses, $9,660

El Paso Public Library — Kid’s Technology Workshop, $10,000

Irving Public Library — MiY Zone, $10,000

Jacksonville Public Library — Digital Literacy Impact Grant, $3,040

Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library — Digital eContent Initiative, $10,000

Nueces County Keach Family Library — Peek-A-Book at the Library, $7,885

Pittsburg-Camp County Public Library — Expanding your world through online resources and services, $10,000

Plano Public Library System — App Time, $10,000

Schulenburg Public Library — E-books for Schuelnburg, $10,000

Speer Memorial Library — Roving Reference/Check Out a Librarian Program, $9,424

Tyler Public Library — Tech Time to Learn, $9,339

Tyler Public Library — 1KB4K with Tyler ISD Head Start, $3,173

University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) — We Found a Makerspace in Our Closet: Implementing a Betaspace Using Found Technology, $10,000

University of Texas-Pan American — Roving Reference Service at the University of Texas – Pan American Library, $9,930

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Impact Grants — FY 2016

Arlington Public Library System — Books on Wheels, $9,797

Balch Springs Library – Learning Center — Workforce Development @ the Library, $9,006

Bertha Voyer Memorial Library— Peek-A- Book for Children/BookView for YA (Honey Grove), $3,940

Bryan/College Station Public Library System — Teen Job Skills Training Program, $1,844

Bryan College Station Public Library System — Literacy Starts @ Birth, $9,998

Bullard Community Library — ESOR (Employment Seekers and Online Resources), $4,510

Bulverde/Spring Branch Library — Tech Training Time, $9,100

Bulverde/Spring Branch Library — Family Room Improvement Project, $10,000

Dallas Public Library — The Children’s Center’s Preschool STEM Traveling Workshop, $7,446

Dickinson Public Library — Books for Babies Early Literacy Program, $3,146

El Paso Public Library — Information and Resources for Adult Learners Preparing for and Taking the GEDAR Test Online, $10,000

El Paso Public Library — Science Matters, $3,000

El Paso Public Library — Mobile Digital Training Lab, $10,000

Harris County Public Library — Construction Industry Workforce Development, $10,000

Harris County Public Library — HCPL Robotics and Coding , $10,000

Harris County Public Library — Senior Adult Digital Experience, $10,000

Kyle Public Library — Kyle Mobile Initiative with eBooks, $10,000

Lone Star College-North Harris — Career Advancement Program (Houston), $9,989

Marion Community Library — weeLearn at the Library!, $6,486

Plano Public Library System — STEAMaction, $10,000

Port Isabel Public Library — Kids E-Club, $6,599

Rockwall County Library — Let’s Work it Out: Microsoft Office Word I,II,III and Excel I,II,III (Rockwall), $1,538

Seguin-Guadalupe County Public Library — Storytime PLUS! @ the Seguin Public Library, $4,476

Southlake Public Library — Small Business Development Workshops, $7,100

Southlake Public Library — Southlake Special Delivery, $7,012

Southwest Texas Junior College — Chrome and See It (Uvalde), $9,818

Southwestern Adventist University — Tablet Lending Program (Keene), $5,300

Speer Memorial Library — Peek-a-Book System (Mission), $9,895

Texas Tech University — Book Raider Phase 2 (Lubbock), $9,940

The Library at Cedar Creek Lake — Children of the Lake Early Literacy Initiative (Seven Points), $10,000

Tye Preston Memorial Library — AWE Early Literacy Stations (Canyon Lake), $7,690

Wells Branch Community Library — Tumblebooks for The Wells Branch Community Library (Austin), $1,820

Western Texas College — Implementation of EBSCO Discovery Services (Snyder), $8,334

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TexTreasures Grants — FY 2015

Abilene Library Consortium — 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum Historical Photographs Collection, $25,000

Austin Film Festival — The Austin Film Festival On Story Archive: Digitally Preserving and Presenting Austin Film Festival & Conference Recordings, $25,000

Austin Public Library — Processing the Pease-Graham-Niles Papers, Austin History Center, $20,000

Beaumont Public Library System — Melody Maids Scrapbooks, $18,490

Concordia University — CTX Historical Collection Digitization (Austin), $8,600

Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin — Creating Digital Access to the Papers of J. Frank Dobie, $19,564

Houston Public Library — Mapping Houston’s History, $25,000

Panola College — Loblolly Digitization Project (Carthage), $3,248

Southern Methodist University — Everett L. DeGolyer Jr. Collection of United States Railroad Photographs (Texas Railroad Negatives) Digitization Project (Dallas), $20,000

Southwestern University — Digital Texas Heritage Resource Center (Georgetown), $20,000

Texas State University — Texas State University Archives Digitization of Rare Local Newspapers, $1,275

University of North Texas — Let it be Heard; The Dallas Voice Online, $19,915

Weatherford Public Library — Preserving and Expanding Access to Culture and History (PEACH), $24,941

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TexTreasures Grants — FY 2016

Abilene Library Consortium — David Castle Architectural Drawings, $35,000

Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin — Cataloging and Creating Digital Access to the Banquet Negatives in the E. O. (Eugene Omar) Goldbeck Papers and Photography Collection, $22,675

Southern Methodist University — George W. Cook Dallas/ Texas Image Collection Digitization Project (Dallas), $24,990

University of North Texas — Digitizing the Texas Jewish Post, 1947-1965 (Denton), $24,662

University of Texas at Arlington — Digitizing for Accessibility: The Texas Disability History Collection Project, $25,000

Weatherford Public Library — Digitizing the Doss (DtD), $34,955
 

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Library Cooperation Grants — FY 2015

AMIGOS Library Services — Amigos E-book Distribution Platform Project (Dallas), $75,000

Arlington Public Library System — Shared Resources, $45,750

Bell/Whittington Public Library — YOUmedia PortlandTX, $38,565

Central Texas Library System — ‘Bots & Books @ Your Library (Austin), $75,000

Dallas Public Library — GED Testing and Workforce Development Project, $74,638

Fort Worth Library — Worth Reading #WR365, $75,000

Houston Public Library — Astrodome Memories, $75,000

Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library — Video Media, $41,637

Smithville Public Library — Community 4 Learning, $50,000

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Library Cooperation Grants — FY 2016

Arlington Public Library System — Read It Again, $48,016

Blanco County South Library District— English Language Through Library Services and Technology (Blanco), $33,970

Central Texas Library System — ‘Bots and Books (Austin), $75,000

Dallas Public Library — GED Testing and Workforce Development Project, $73,808

Fort Worth Library — Worth Reading Year-round Literacy and Education Program, $75,000

Houston Public Library — Astrodome Memories: Community Engagement Project, $65,000

Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library — GED Test Prep (Brenham), $8,800

Schulenburg Public Library — Digital Inclusion (DI), $75,000

University of North Texas — Day at UNT (Denton), $24,840

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Special Projects Grants — FY 2015

Carrollton Public Library — Parents’ Library: Learn, Share, Grow Together, $13,000

Central Texas Library System — Connect 4 Literacy – and More (Austin), $75,000

Chambers County Library System — After-School Tutoring Program, $7,550

Corpus Christi Public Libraries — Connecting the Community, $74,527

Dallas Public Library — Homeless Engagement Initiative, $70,091

Effie & Wilton Hebert Public Library — Technology Training (Port Neches), $15,900

Frisco Public Library — Frisco Public Library Bibliotheca Smartlocker, $39,201

Irving Public Library — North Texas Teen Book Festival $50,000

Kirbyville Public Library — Education, Employment & Enrichment, 31,728

North Richland Hills Public Library — The Maker Spot: Igniting Community Creativity, $74,785

Plano Public Library System — Math Literacy, $66,573

Presidio (City of) Library — Saturday Library, $5,760

Schulenburg Public Library — TOPS 3; Round III, $75,000

The Process of Collaboration - A Circle of Ten, Inc. — Gateway to Financial Literacy (Jacksonville), $75,000

University of North Texas — UNT Libraries Board Game Workshop (Denton), $4,663

Wolfforth (City of) Library — Job Resource Center, $38,500.

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Special Projects Grants — FY 2016

Austin Public Library — My Library Keeps Me Healthy - Free Health Information at the Austin Public Library, $75,000

Central Texas Library System — 3-D Labs @ Your Library (Austin), $75,000

Dallas Public Library — Homeless Engagement Initiative, $75,000

El Paso Public Library — Sow.Grow.Reap.Eat. Seed Library & Demonstration Garden Program, $36,260

Frisco Public Library — Frisco Public Library STEM Education, $41,613

Irving Public Library — North Texas Teen Book Festival, $74,980

Johnson City Public Library — Discovery Academy, $13,212

Lee College — Lee College Huntsville Center COEP Project, Phase 1 (Baytown), $31,200

Nueces County Library — Tech, You’re It! @ the Library (Robstown), $74,719

Pottsboro Area Public Library — Connect Here!, $41,385

Rita & Truett Smith Public Library — Seniors @ SPL (Wylie), $6,920

University of North Texas — Beyond Books & Bytes. Promoting Creative & Hands- On Learning @ A University Library (Denton), $75,000
 

The Texas Center for the Book Literacy Award — October 2016

Midland Need to Read, $1000

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Appendix B — Reports, Publications, and Institutes

Texas Statewide Resource Sharing Summit Final Report. This summary report details the findings of the Texas Statewide Resource  Sharing Summit held in Austin, Texas, December 3 and 4, 2015.

2016 TSLAC Texas Public Library Broadband Speed. In Spring 2016, TSLAC conducted the Texas Public Library Speed Test, which provided the first-ever snapshot of public library Internet speeds across Texas. TSLAC provided an online network speed test tool for a three-month period. During this time, public libraries throughout Texas tested the Internet speed at each of their locations on a wired public access computer. The results revealed that only 6% of Texas public libraries (39 of 687 respondents) met the targets set by the FCC. The test results indicate that as much as 94% of Texas public libraries are below national broadband standards for libraries.

Libraries and Literacy Toolkit. Working in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission, TSLAC has developed a digital toolkit and training resources for libraries statewide to support workforce development and job seekers in their communities.

The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. In May 2015, the Texas State Library held 3-day Harwood Public Innovators Labs in Arlington, San Angelo, and Houston. Focused on “turning outward,” the Labs were developed as the result of a partnership with ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative.

Agency Blogs. The TSLAC team of information professionals maintains a series of blogs designed to keep the public and practitioners updated on the latest techniques, best practices, news, and research.

• Director’s Report: Insights and observations written by Mark Smith, Director and Librarian of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
• Conservation: Covers activities at TSLAC’s Summerlee Conservation Lab including treatment of book and paper items, conservation processes, and challenges within library and archives collections.
• Texas Talking Book Program: Read book reviews and recommendations by staff.
• The Texas Record: Learn about topics such as records retention, inventory, disposition, managing electronic records, and emergency planning.
• Library Developments: See all the library focused news and posts on available grants, webinars, professional development, TexShare/TexQuest consortia, and many other services for libraries.
• Texas Resource Sharing Project: Stay informed with posts on statewide interlibrary loan and the TExpress courier program services.
• TexZine: Get information on all database related news, such as free training, available databases, and exclusive pricing offers for TexShare consortium member libraries.

Various user group email distribution lists and newsletters continue to keep the agency’s diverse array of stakeholders informed about activities.

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Appendix C — Partnerships

The Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) working in collaboration with TSLAC announced recipients of the inaugural THRAB Archival Awards for 2016:

• Malinda Allison is the recipient in the individual category of the award for her work in digitizing, preserving, and making accessible the historical records of Honey Grove, TX and Fannin County.
   
• The West Texas Collection at Angelo State University receives the institutional award for its Vietnam Veteran’s Commemoration Project.

The agency partnered with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and LEGO Systems, Inc. to bring Junior Maker Spaces to local libraries.

Authors’ Summit: Working in collaboration with the Texas Book Festival, TSLAC and the Center for the Book brought together Texas authors in celebration of Texas storytelling. This new event highlighted the work of authors using Texas historical records as the basis for their books.

Literacy on the Capitol Grounds: Continuing the annual tradition, the Commission once again partnered with the Texas Book Festival for the 2015 and 2016 event held on the grounds of the State Capitol.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission partnered with the Texas Workforce Commission to expand library engagement with local Adult Education and Literacy providers.

Summer Lunch at the Library extends the US Summer Food Service Program to Texas libraries. Through a partnership between TSLAC and the Department of Agriculture, many Texas libraries provide nourishment to children, educate their minds, and support success in school and beyond.

Reach Out and Read, a program of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC), encourages a love of books and reading. TSLAC is partnering with UTHSC to support preschool children in school readiness. Working together, the organizations encourage Texas public libraries and Reach Out and Read programs to work together to promote early literacy development.

School Library Standards: The Commission is partnering with the Texas Education Agency and the library community to redesign the Standards for School Libraries, an essential policy and planning framework to ensure that Texas school children benefit from world-class school library service.

Governor Greg Abbott declared Thursday, September 15, 2016 as Power Up at Your Library Day, and the agency worked with libraries statewide to highlight the role of libraries in education, workforce development, community engagement, and lifelong learning.

Little Free Libraries: The Texas Center for the Book and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, partnered with Little Free Library founder, Todd H. Bol, to distribute more than 50 little free libraries across the Lone Star State. The national nonprofit toured Texas to promote a love of reading and community through free book exchanges with Little Free Library building workshops in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Plano.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission, along with 22 other Central Texas archival repositories, joined forces at the Austin Archives Bazaar on October 16 to offer the local community an opportunity to discover the photographs, documents, films, maps, video games, and more held in the incredible archival collections in Austin and Central Texas.

In October 2015 and October 2016, Texas joined archival repositories across the nation to celebrate Archives Month and promote the preservation of our country’s documentary heritage.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission partnered with the Texas Archive of the Moving Image to host an after-hours archival film screening on the east lawn of the Texas State Capitol Building. Archives in ATXion, a family-friendly event, screened vintage film clips from the collections of both TSLAC and TAMI and served as an opportunity for the archival community of central Texas to connect our shared missions of education, preservation and conservation with our friends and neighbors in the Austin area.

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Appendix D — Exhibits, Educational Programs, Acquisitions

Exhibit—William Barret Travis “Victory or Death Letter”: One day into the bombardment of the Alamo, the 26-year-old commander of the makeshift fortress, William Barret Travis, addressed a letter “To the People of Texas and All Americans in the world.” Dated February 24, 1836, the document is kept within a specially designed case while on exhibit which limits harmful light while providing the unique opportunity to come face to face with one of the most important pieces of our state’s shared heritage.

Exhibit—Texans’ Struggle for Freedom and Equality: TSLAC offered visitors the opportunity to view documents and images integral to our state’s social history, illustrating the heroic efforts of early Texas settlers, the consequences of Indian and Mexican conflicts, demands for civil rights for African-Americans and Tejanos and the campaign for women’s suffrage.

The Commission’s acquisition of the records of Governor Rick Perry includes the archival policy files, appointments, correspondence, press releases, speeches, executive orders and memoranda documenting key policy issues pertaining to the Governor’s initiatives on economic development, education, and workforce investment.

Texas Senate Recordings: TSLAC completed the major public access project of opening access to the digitized recordings of Senate chamber proceedings 1972-2006.

Exhibit—Texas In Focus: Early Photographs from the State Archives: The showcase of images from the Prints and Photographs Collection at the Texas State Archives revealed a visual narrative of the history of the state, and the rapid technological advancements taking place in the field of photography from the mid to late 19th century.

Exhibit—Setting Up Camp: The Early History of Texas State Parks: This tour of the early history of Texas state parks, first established by Governor Pat Neff in 1923, helped visitors gain a better understanding of the state’s natural resources though hand-drawn park blueprints, vintage tourism guides, period promotional photographs, and more compiled from the collection at the Texas State Archives.

Exhibit—Wish You Were Here featured postcards, photographs, and documents. The exhibit explored Texas tourism by region, highlighting attractive locales and destinations. From the arid lands of West Texas to the beaches on the Gulf Coast and everything in between, the collections from the State Archives show that Texas has plenty to offer the wayward traveler.

Event—The Governor’s Hounds: The Texas State Police, 1870-1873, an evening with Author and Historian Donaly E. Brice: Drawing upon a wealth of previously untouched resources from the Texas State Archives, Brice offered an engaging assessment of the much-reviled Texas State Police and its role in maintaining law and order in the years following the Civil War.

Event—Cynthia Brandimarte, author of Texas State Parks and the CCC: The Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps, discussed the history of Texas state parks and provided an additional learning experience in conjunction with Commission’s lobby exhibit.

Event – The Texas Center for the Book Kickoff: This event celebrated and publicized the Center’s move from Dallas Public Library to TSLAC. The evening featuring authors, books, and refreshments was held on the portico of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building during the Texas Book Festival.

Event— Lone Star Día: Libraries statewide celebrated the 20th anniversary of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day). The agency and the Center for the Book partnered with Zach Theater in Austin for a special performance of Tomás and the Library Lady featuring a special presentation and book signing by Día Founder and author of Tomás and the Library Lady, Pat Mora.

Event—Richard Eisenhour, historian and postcard collector, presented an informative and entertaining account of the history of the postcard and shared postcard images from his own collection.

Event —Postcard collector, writer, and lay historian Ken Wilson explored the resulting narratives captured in photographic postcards from the minutiae of daily life, to disasters, to occasional mysteries in this presentation entitled, “In Their Own Words: The Messages of Early 20th Century Real Photo Postcards.”

Event—Dr. Jesus Frank de la Teja and Manuel González Oropeza presented “Proceedings of the Constituent Congress of Coahuila and Texas.” TSLAC hosted this event with the Center for the Study of the Southwest at Texas State University and the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society.

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Appendix E — Educational and Continuing Education Programming

Professional Development and Support for Librarians: Professional resources for continuing education and training are among the most valued services of the agency. The agency’s Library and Networking Division offers access to scores of webinars, tutorials, demonstrations, and in-person training opportunities every year.

Call-in Book Club Series for Talking Book Program Participants: Designed for patrons of the TBP, this easy to access program allows patrons to share their reading experiences with others across the state. This service allows individuals with visual or physical challenges who cannot read standard print to share the joy of reading.

Talking Book Program Training: With webinars and other online resources, the TBP offers specialized training to librarians and other stakeholders who serve TBP patrons as well as the patrons themselves who need extra assistance with the technology and resources associated with using the service.

Texas Summer Reading Club (2015, 2016): The longstanding program promotes reading to students over the summer months and has long been praised as an important resource for preventing the “summer slide” of reading skills. The campaign centers around a statewide membership for public libraries in the Collaborative Summer Library Program. The Texas State Library provides a basic starter kit of materials including a program manual, clip art, and a themed CSLP catalog to each of Texas’ qualified participating public libraries.

Día de los niños/Día de los libros (2015, 2016) is a national celebration of diversity and literature. TSLAC works with libraries across the state to celebrate this program held at the end of April each year. In 2016, Texas Center for the Book coined the term Lone Star Día for Texas to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Día, and encouraged statewide participation. Agency staff and the Texas Center for the Book created materials and plans for libraries across the state to participate in Lone Star Día.

State and Local Records Continuing Education and Training: SLRM provides foundational records management training to state agencies and local governments. Face-to-face and online sessions are designed to help agency heads, elected officials, records management officers and other staff establish and administer efficient records management programs.

Letters About Literature Contest: The Texas Center for Book launched a reading and writing contest for students in grades 4-12. The program is under the direction of the Library of Congress and offers a channel for students to personalize their reading experience by writing to their favorite book’s author. State winners are selected who then compete at the national level.

 

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Appendix F — About the Agency

Directors

Mark Smith, Director and Librarian

Gloria Meraz, Assistant State Librarian

Donna Osborne, Chief Operations and Fiscal Officer

Manuel Alvarez, Director, Information Resources Technologies

Jelain Chubb, Director, Archives and Information Services

Craig Kelso, Director, State and Local Records Management

Deborah Littrell, Director, Library Development and Networking

Ava Smith, Director, Talking Book Program

 

Agency Locations

Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building

1201 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701

State and Local Records Center

4400 Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin, TX 78756

Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center

650 FM 1011, Liberty, TX 77575

 

 

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Organization Chart

Organization Chart Description Text:

The Governor of Texas is at the top of the TSLAC organizational chart. Reporting to the Governor is the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, which is a seven member commission appointed by the Governor. The Commission is advised by three advisory boards. Reporting directly to the Commission is the Director and Librarian Mark Smith (Direct reports: 7 FTE). The Executive Office staff reports to the Director and Librarian, as does the Assistant State Librarian Gloria Meraz (Direct reports: 4 FTE) and the Chief Operations and Fiscal Officer Donna Osborne (Direct reports: 8 FTE).

The next layer of the chart shows Administrative Services and Information Resources Technologies (Manuel Alvarez, Director. Direct reports: 9 FTE) reporting to the Chief Operations Officer.

The next layer of the chart shows four areas that report directly to the Director and Librarian: Archives and Information Services (Director, Jelain Chubb. Direct reports: 8 FTE), Library Development and Networking (Director, Deborah Littrell. Direct reports: 13 FTE), State and Local Records Management (Director, Craig Kelso. Direct reports: 4 FTE), and Talking Book Program (Director, Ava Smith. Direct reports: 17.5 FTE).

Executive Office: Key functions include providing statewide leadership for library archival, and records management programs and services in Texas, inspiring agency staff to achieve shared goals and objectives, managing day-to-day agency operations, and ensuring alignment of programs and services with statewide goals.

Administrative Services: Key functions include accounting and grants management, purchasing and procurement, support of the agency’s human resources, reproduction and mail services, facilities management, agency records management, and safety and risk management.

Information Resources Technologies: Key functions include technical support for all agency programs and services by procuring, installing, operating, and maintaining computer and telecommunications resources and working closely with the State Data Center to ensure optimal support for technology infrastructure.

Archives and Information Services: Key functions include securing and making accessible historical Texas documents in print and digital formats, providing library materials and information upon request, administering interlibrary loans, harvesting of state agency web sites, administering the state’s publications depository program, supporting researchers and historians, and promoting Texas history. The division also includes the Sam Houston Regional Library & Research Center located in Liberty, which holds archives for a 10-county area in southeast Texas.

Library Development and Networking: Key functions include promoting resource sharing among libraries of all types in Texas, managing the statewide TexShare and TexQuest consortia, administering statewide interlibrary loan, grant administration, providing continuing education and consulting for all types of libraries, collecting statistics, developing policies, standards, and long-range plans to achieve statewide library development goals and objectives.

State and Local Records Management: Key functions include providing guidance and training to state agency and local government staff on the effective and efficient management of government records, operating a storage facility for infrequently used non-current state and local records that have not come to the end of their retention periods, providing imaging services for state agencies and local governments. Records storage and imaging services are offered on a cost-recovery basis.

Talking Book Program: Key functions include providing reading materials in digital, Braille, large-print, and audiocassette format to Texans who are blind or who are physically disabled and cannot read standard print, managing a volunteer program that produces recorded books that are not available elsewhere; and assisting patrons to use the national Braille and Audio Reading Download site at the Library of Congress.

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