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- 1. Be a Player: Opportunities in Professional Library Associations Ted Wanner Continuing Education Specialist Texas Library Association
- 8. Q: How do we address common issues with one voice?
- 13. www.ala.org
- 17. TLA Districts (June 2010)
- 19. TLA Districts in 2011? Regions correspond to Texas Council of Governments
- 44. San Antonio * April 14-17
- 50. Librarians vs. Guitar Hero
- 53. Advocacy
Notas del editor
- Good afternoon, I am Ted Wanner, CE Specialist for the Texas Library Association. I manage all the training functions outside of the annual TLA conference. Today I want to share with you some information about professional library associations and their importance to your careers.
- When I started in libraries in 1986, many were still using card catalogs. Technology, library tools, and library best practices continue to evolve. We continue to find new answers to issues in the many different kinds of libraries that make up the Texas Library Association.
- Academic Libraries, for example – We have over 150 in Texas alone, and several times that number if you count the individual specialized libraries on every campus, such as a science library or a music library. Some of the top issues facing college and university libraries are… Library instruction , or training students on how to use the library; Integrated Library Instruction , or collaborating with faculty to plan programs and training that dovetails with what they are teaching in class; SACS accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which impacts accreditation for the whole university; Public relations , which you might not expect to find in an academic setting, but it remains an important issue in two ways: first, convincing students to use the valuable resources within the library instead of just searching Google; and second, convincing administrators to fund and expand the library in the age of Google. It comes down to money .
- Texas has over 570 public libraries. The vast majority are small community institutions with only a few staff, but then there are also the major urban libraries such as Houston or Dallas, with dozens of branches and hundreds of employees. Important issues for public libraries include Professional Staffing, Relevance in the Internet Age Library instruction and programming Marketing Money Disaster Preparedness
- Special libraries are hard to count, in part because the definition can vary, but we know there are over 9000 in the United States, and the Special Libraries Division of TLA has about members. Special libraries include corporate libraries, but also museum libraries, law libraries, medical libraries, and on and on. For special libraries, the bottom line is always the biggest issue. They face challenges like rising data costs , and the need to keep their executives convinced of the library’s value.
- Finally, school libraries are the most numerous type. We have over 7000 in Texas. Professional staffing is an ongoing concern for Texas school libraries. School librarians and media specialists are not generally required to have the MLS degree, leaving administrators to wonder if they could get by with cheaper, non-degreed staff. Integrated library instruction for students is a major area for school librarians, just as it is for academic librarians. This especially relates to the TEKS and the related TAKS tests. Any library that deals with minors is more likely to encounter some challenges to content or labelling. Meeting those challenges, and dealing with community in general, are back in the area of PR and advocacy , which also applies to getting support…ie. Money . By now you see that most libraries have some common problems, even across different types of libraries. How do we address these big issues?
- The answer lies in professional associations. Associations allow librarians to speak with one voice on the issues that impact all of us, but also to network with others in similar libraries and similar positions.
- The answer lies in professional associations. Associations allow librarians to speak with one voice on the issues that impact all of us, but also to network with others in similar libraries and similar positions.
- The main association at the national level is the American Library Association, which was founded in . ALA is made up of many smaller associations by library type, such as … (list associations)
- There are also other national associations unrelated to ALA.for special groups like law librarians, medical librarians, and so on – also including IT. Right now there is tremendous opportunity for library school students to become involved on the national level, mainly due to a huge society-changing event: the social media revolution.
- Now we are seeing many associations move toward virtual conferences, what is sometimes called the Unconference. Formal hierarchies like divisions and round tables are giving way to more informal communities of practice. There are tremendous opportunities for digital natives to help these national organizations to embrace the technology, applications, and best practices. They are looking for you, and it is easier than ever to get involved.
- Now let me tell you about your own state association. The Texas Library Association was founded in June of 1902. It is the largest state library association in the nation – larger than the associations of New York, California, and combined. We have approximately 7000 members, on the average, and about 8000 people attend the annual conference – more on that in a moment – and 15 staff to take care of them all. (15 may not sound like a big staff, but it is by far the largest in the country. A few states have 10 or 11 people, then it drops precipitously to 3 people and many volunteers for most states)
- Like ALA, TLA is made up of divisions by library type.
- TLA is also made up of ten geographic districts across the state. Can anyone guess how these numbers were assigned?
- It’s alphabetical. We are, after all, librarians.
- The main way that most people are involved in TLA is through the many round tables and interest groups. These are voluntary discussion groups Some are based on major areas in the profession: Others are based on special interests:
- TLA is also made up of committees, which are appointed by the president to perform certain roles for the association. Many committees have organizational functions, such as the giving of awards, programming for conference, working with the state legislature, and so on. Other committees are committed to the ideals of TLA: intellectual freedom, leadership, professionalism, multicultural relations, and many more. TLA is currently streamlining and consolidating some committees to make them more efficient.
- The Association puts out a number of special publications. The Texas Library Journal is published quarterly. There is also an online newsletter called the TLACast. The Association also publishes an intellectual freedom handbook to help with challenges to materials or policies; Texline, which covers library-related issues in the state legislature; a recommended list of reference sources; and of course book awards. I mention these not just to let you know that they are available for you. We are constantly looking for new material. You, as students, are constantly generating new material. These publications represent an opportunity for you to…
- Get Published! You can become a published author while you are still in library school. This would be a great addition to your resume or vita. Just contact Gloria Meraz at the Texas Library Association.
- The Texas Library Association also sponsors several Continuing Education opportunities. The 10 districts have annual meetings and some have other CE events. TLA is preparing to do quarterly webinars that will be tied in with articles in the Texas Library Journal. These webinars will cover topics in communication, collaboration, leadership, and innovation. More information may be found on our web site, txla.org, under Continuing Education. TLA also coordinates large Institutes that last several days, starting with the TALL Texans Leadership Institute in the Spring. The Senior Leadership Institute will be for people wanting to run very large libraries, like the UNT library system or Dallas Public Library. We are also looking to build on ALA’s Emerging Leaders program, which recognizes librarians in the first 3 years of their professional career.
- The Texas Library Association also sponsors several Continuing Education opportunities. The 10 districts have annual meetings and some have other CE events. TLA is preparing to do quarterly webinars that will be tied in with articles in the Texas Library Journal. These webinars will cover topics in communication, collaboration, leadership, and innovation. More information may be found on our web site, txla.org, under Continuing Education. TLA also coordinates large Institutes that last several days, starting with the TALL Texans Leadership Institute in the Spring. The Senior Leadership Institute will be for people wanting to run very large libraries, like the UNT library system or Dallas Public Library. We are also looking to build on ALA’s Emerging Leaders program, which recognizes librarians in the first 3 years of their professional career.
- One the most important programs at TLA is our interaction with the Texas State Legislature. TLA is constantly helping legislators to understand the importance of libraries. We are currently working with the Texas State Library to restore and expand state aid to libraries, but in the past we have also helped develop official standards for libraries, supported libraries through the Technology Infrastructure Fund and laws permitting library districts. Some of you may be familiar with the proposed 65% rule. Some years ago, Governor Perry decreed that 65 cents of every dollar for education had to go for direct classroom support…he did not consider this to include libraries. By working with the Texas Education Agency, TLA was able to persuade legislators to change this rule. TLA is also closely involved in getting more money to get TexShare databases for schools, so they will be able to enjoy the same resources that public and academic libraries do now. By participating within TLA, you can…
- …Make Things Happen. You can be part of that voice that tells the state government what libraries need to serve the people. You can make changes that impact libraries for generations to come.
- TLA has numerous special projects, as well. Earlier I mentioned the TALL Texans Institute. This program is intended for librarians with five years’ experience. We take 24 people on a retreat for about one week, and we focus on advanced leadership and management skills. We have an instructor from the Harvard Leadership Institute, as well as the head of the George Washington University library in Maryland, and six top librarians from around Texas to serve as mentors to the participants. Graduates of the program are now directors, managers, and board members are libraries both inside and outside Texas. Then we have the calendars.
- TLA has numerous special projects, as well. Earlier I mentioned the TALL Texans Institute. This program is intended for librarians with five years’ experience. We take 24 people on a retreat for about one week, and we focus on advanced leadership and management skills. We have an instructor from the Harvard Leadership Institute, as well as the head of the George Washington University library in Maryland, and six top librarians from around Texas to serve as mentors to the participants. Graduates of the program are now directors, managers, and board members are libraries both inside and outside Texas. Then we have the calendars.
- Your own dean, Doctor Herman Totten, was one of our models. Some of you are probably now taking notes…”oh, he likes wine!” Of course, not all of our models were as…
- …dressed. In the interests of gender equality, we also recently published another calendar, also to raise funds for disaster relief. This was the Tattooed Ladies of TLA… Quite a few librarians posed for this new 16-month calendar, and many were from the University of North Texas.
- These included your librarians…
- …your library administrators…
- …your classmates…
- And even one of your professors! The Tattooed Ladies of TLA Calendar is on sale now for twenty dollars, please visit www.txla.org for information. Revenues go toward disaster relief for libraries hit by hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, and other Very Bad Things.
- Of course we have other special projects besides calendars. A few years ago we created the Professionalism and Ethics Task Force, which brought together representatives from all the library schools, CE providers, and other groups to review We are now involved in a huge project to The point of all this,
- Of course we have other special projects besides calendars. A few years ago we created the Professionalism and Ethics Task Force, which brought together representatives from all the library schools, CE providers, and other groups to review We are now involved in a huge project to The point of all this,
- Once each year, we get together with about 8000 of our closest friends to talk about libraries. The TLA Conference is the largest state conference in the United States, and the 3 rd largest library conference – behind only ALA and ALA Midwinter.
- A major part of the conference is the Exhibit Hall. Over 800 companies exhibit at the TLA Conference, showing off their latest products and services for libraries. These include not just new editions of books or databases, but furniture, computer systems, security systems, performers, and so on. The Exhibit Hall is a great way to get informed about the newest things in library land, but you won’t find most of these at other state conferences. Many exhibitors only show at ALA and TLA. We also have several special events at the Conference.
- These are some of our past general session speakers…
- Not all of our speakers are renowned scholars. We also have celebrities. One of my jobs at Conference is to manage the green room, where people wait to go on stage. These kinds of speakers are always fun because except for guys like Dave Barry, they are all a little high maintenance. Julie Andrews needed the furniture arranged in a certain way, with the tea at a precise temperature. Bill Cosby wanted legions of school kids to help him warm up. Gloria Estefan changed clothes three times before going on stage. She had just written a children’s book, and while she had sung in front of millions, this was her first time speaking as a published author…and she was facing…librarians! She was petrified. You almost want to say, OK, no more singing authors, but of course they are always great. We are hoping to bring Dolly Parton for 2010 because she has done some outstanding work on literacy. Some of our other possibilities include Cokie Roberts, Rachel Maddow, and Neil Gaiman.
- President Heath has chosen this theme for the 2010 conference in San Antonio. The theme starts with Chaos, but I’ll filter out the main words…
- Now we have a new president, Patrick Heath, who is the former mayor of Boerne, Texas. Mr. Heath is not a librarian, but he has been a strong library advocate for many years. His career as a politician gives him unique perspective on our issues.
- This is a typical session with a panel of speakers. What you don’t see in this picture are the scores or hundreds of librarians in the audience. But with over 200 programs, we try to have something for everyone. Some of the topics coming up for 2010 include
- So we come back to this…librarians and Guitar Hero!
- You can volunteer by going to our web site listed here, and then under Events and Annual Conference there should be a volunteer link. There is a good reason why people, especially library school students, volunteer at the conference. When you volunteer, you are not just getting involved in a statewide event with nationally-known speakers. You get to work side by side with directors and managers from all kinds of libraries in Texas. You get to know them and they get to know you, which means later you can…
- …Get a Job! When the time comes to hire, who do you think they will pick? The person who is just a resume, or the person they worked with already, whom they know is reliable, smart, and dedicated? This is just one of the reasons we’ve mentioned for joining TLA.
- By joining the Texas Library Association, you have the opportunity to get published, get new skills, make things happen, help steer the profession, and most importantly, get a job.
- You can join both ALA and TLA for a combined student rate of $35. The path is as you see here. (repeat path) Of course, I could just show you the link…
- …but the link is hideous.
- Again, please feel free to contact me if you have questions about the video project or any TLA / library topic. I can always be reached through this email address at the Texas Library Association. Are there any questions right now? Thank you for letting me join your class today.