Announcements

Random Bits
Talking about funding for your library? Need statistics and support? Try ALA’s Advocating in a Tough Economy toolkit.

Use the District Dispatch to stay current with federal activities that impact libraries. (Recent announcements of CPSC’s stay regarding children’s books printed after 1985.)

Ice cream? Try Dreyers Foundation for program support.

Calendar
February 18, 2009, Tekkies assemble at 9:30 am and meet at 10:00 am at the Carrollton Public Library at Josey Ranch Lake. The Library is located at 1700 Keller Springs Road in Carrollton. Meeting is open to all.

By February 23 RSVP to 1.800.875.2785 or elaines @ midwesttapes.com for Midwest tapes demonstration events March 4 in Greenville and March 5 in Longview.

By February 27 members of TLA and SCLRT (Small Community Library Round Table) apply for TLA Conference Stipend 2009 sponsored by Biblionix.

By February 27 NETLS is offering to pay the registration fee for several people to attend the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Annual Conference in Gatlinburg, TN in September.

Librarians from NETLS who have been to an ARSL Conference say they were the most beneficial, enjoyable library conference they had attended. They enjoyed the intimate feel and valued the opportunity to get practical ideas they could use in their libraries. Attendees also appreciated the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with staff members from libraries similar to theirs and
with conference speakers.

The conference registration fee includes a few meals. Housing at the conference hotel, which is where all activities are held, is a reasonable $70 per night.

If you and/or members of your library staff would like to be considered for payment of the ARSL Conference registration fee, please reply to sseale@netls.org by Friday, February 27, with the following information:
§ Library name
§ Staff member name(s)
§ In 100 words or less, how you think your community could benefit from your attending the
conference

If you have questions, please contact Steve Seale, NETLS Continuing Education
Consultant, 972/205-6332, sseale@netls.org.

Tidbits

First, a big thank you to everyone who attended or was represented at our recent Geographic meetings.
Second – the date for our upcoming membership meeting is MONDAY, May 4.
Third – letters of intent to participate in the automation project were distributed at this morning’s demonstration. If your library is intending to participate, contact Jerry McCulley (972 205 3862) ASAP for a copy of the letter. This letter will need to be signed by a local authority and returned to the address on the letter by Feb 24.

A few links of interest:
Regarding collecting sales tax, an explanation of when nonprofits need to pay sales taxes as the seller.

Copyright spinner – online version http://librarycopyright.net/108spinner/

Books for programs for nonprofit agencies http://booksforkids.firstbook.org/register/intro.php

Classes & Training
SLMIII Class
Collection Development that was to take place on February 26-27, 2009 at Fort Bend County Library is postponed. If you are registered, please let Dawn Vogler [dvogler@tsl.state.tx.us] know if April 13/14 or 16/17 will work for you. Other sessions are still available including one in Lewisville.

Early Literacy Kits on a Dime wiki
The purpose of the Early Literacy Kits on a Dime wiki is not only to highlight what early literacy kits are, but also to try and gain some evidence of their use in Texas. Dawn Vogler and Paula Ellis from Palestine Public Library will be presenting on how small libraries can use these kits at TLA in April. There is also a section on the website about storytime bags for checkout that you may be interested in. Wikis are only as good as the contributions and comments, so share your experiences.

Upcoming Deadlines
February 13 The Texas Heritage Digitization holds its annual meeting at the Lubbock Public Library

February 13 Targeting the Ages: Programming that hits the mark free teleconference or webcast

February 24 Letters of Intent to participate in the library automation project are due to Nancy Hill. Contact Jerry McCulley (972 205 3862) ASAP if you need a copy of the letter.

February 27 CREW (revised) in Henderson at Rusk County PL. A new CREW manual coming out will be used in this workshop. The staff at Rusk County will all be there, but there will be some extra space if others from the area would like to join us. It's free on February 27 and the hours are 9am-4pm with 1.5 hours for lunch. Registration is open .

February 27 Grant applications due in Austin.

March 9 IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf applications due for organizations involved in conservation and preservation of collections of all types.

May 4 Membership meeting

Host Opportunity -- ROSA
From Dawn Vogler, TSLAC
I am interested in hearing from libraries that would like to host a workshop for a group of 15 or more.

Here are the details about this workshops series, which was very successfully received:
Texas State Library has partnered with WebJunction to bring you Reaching Our Spanish-Speaking Audience (ROSA). This professional development program will equip library staff with knowledge and resources to reach out to Spanish speakers in your communities and increase their access to technology. ROSA workshops will be offered throughout Texas teaching library staff how to best meet the needs of the Spanish-speaking population. Topics include cultural differences, community partnerships, marketing, and technology. Full-day interactive workshops will be conducted in English and held in libraries or community centers around the state. The workshops feature panels of community leaders who are active in the Spanish speaking community.

Participants will learn:
Awareness of cultural differences and issues How to form community partnerships and collaboration between the library and the Spanish-speaking community Techniques on increasing awareness of the public library and public computers to Spanish-speaking customers

Who Should Attend
All public, school, academic and special library staff and administrators interested in developing an action plan for reaching out to Spanish speakers and increasing their access to public computers in libraries. Library board members, friends of the library, and community partners with an interest in collaborating on action plans are also encouraged to attend.
Please note: Techniques learned will be applicable to any library outreach program

Dawn Vogler
Interim Manager, Continuing Education & Consulting Services Texas State Library & Archives Commission PO Box 12927 Austin, TX 78711-2927
(512) 936-4449 phone
(512) 463-8800 fax