I’m getting a lot of questions on the TSLAC budget for the coming year. Remember TLA is your advocacy agency for libraries.
1. See their recent posting requesting support for the following before Friday’s debate.
Support Library Amendments to CSHB 1 |
Funding for statewide library programs is in jeopardy, and we are at a critical point in budget deliberations. The Texas House will consider a budget proposal. While this budget draft restores $2.5 million/biennium for TexShare, funds were not restored to Loan Star Libraries and the K-12 Databases.
It is IMPERATIVE that all library supporters contact their representative and ask them to vote in favor of three amendments which restore some funding to library programs.
· Amendment by AnchÃa to appropriate $1.5 mil/yr. to Loan Star Libraries
· Amendment by Gutierrez to appropriate $2.5 mil/biennium for the K-12 Databases
· Amendment by Gutierrez to appropriate $2 mil/biennium to Library Resource Sharing
2. It is annual report time. We’re here to help as needed.
3. Can’t make it to TLA? Check out Information Literacy from Birth to Earth: an Unconference.
The Unconference: “It's been called passion bounded by responsibility, the energy of a good coffee break, intentional self-organization, spirit at work, chaos and creativity, evolution in organization, and a simple, powerful way to get people and organizations moving -- when and where it's needed most.” (http://www.openspaceworld.org/cgi/wiki.cgi?AboutOpenSpace)
Unconferences are the latest thing in library conferences. In unconferences, participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme. This year, at the Texas Library Association’s unconference preconference on April 12, librarians of all types will discuss the theme “Information Literacy from Birth to Earth.” Attendees will address solutions to improving Texans’ ability to find the information they need, whether preparing individuals for higher education, improving their research skills, preparing for careers, or life problem-solving.
Sign up by March 31 for TLA’s first unconference! http://www.txla.org/annual-conference Just $15 for TLA members and $30 for nonmembers.
For more information: http://2011tlaunconference.wiki.zoho.com/HomePage.html (feel free to edit in your own ideas about what you’d like discussed at this unconference).
This program is sponsored by College and University Libraries Division, Public Libraries Division, Special Libraries Division, and Texas Association of School Librarians, and the Conference Program Committee.
4. I recently asked NETLS area directors to complete an online survey to identify the most important TSLAC service and the most important NETLS service. The TexShare Database program was the TSLAC top selection with 46% of responses, ILL came next with 18% of the selections. Of the NETLS offerings In-person training and gatherings had 35% of the responses, On-line training followed with 22.5% of the responses. Over 86% of the respondants said they agree that a program of accreditation should continue.
Posts
