Volume 38 No. 2 | February 2019
Update: 86th Texas Legislative Session 
We are a little over one month into the 86th Texas Legislative Session and the pace is starting to pick up. Legislators have until Friday, March 8 to file bills and joint resolutions. To date, 3,045 House and Senate bills and resolutions have been filed.

Governor Abbott gave his State of the State address in early February and identified school finance reform, increasing teacher pay, property tax reform, school safety, mental health programs, and disaster response as emergency items. This designation means that legislation related to those items can be taken up for a vote on the House or Senate floor in the first 60 days of the session. Bills not related to those topics cannot be considered for a floor vote until after 60 days.

Two key bills which meet these criteria are SB 2, related to property tax reform; and SB 3, related to additional funding to increase classroom teachers’ salaries. Learn more

2019 2x2 Reading List and Tejas Star Reading List Announced
The Children’s Round Table and Tejas Star Committee released their 2019 lists in February. The 2x2 Reading List includes recommended books for children age two to grade two. The Tejas Star Reading List is a carefully curated list of Spanish and bilingual titles designed to encourage children ages 5 to 12 to explore multicultural books. Check out all of TLA’s reading lists!

New Members of the Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee Appointed
The Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee is comprised of two subcommittees: the selection committee and the program committee. The selection committee is charged with reading all suggested titles and selecting the final master list. The program committee is charged with publicity work, creating activities for each title, and selecting at random the children that present the award to the winning author. Congratulations to these new members!

  • Selection Committee 2019-2022
  • Krista Britton, Williams Intermediate, Perryton ISD
  • Jennifer Sprague, Sycamore Spring Elementary, Dripping Springs ISD
  • Christi Hinson, Heritage Intermediate, Frenship ISD
  • Rachel Henderson Cook, Tanglewood Elementary School, Fort Worth ISD

  • Program Committee 2019 – 2022
  • Angela Jones, Mary Lib Saleh Euless Public Library
  • Brenda Speck, Berkman Arts Integration Academy, Round Rock ISD
  • Jolie Jennings, Bill Burden Elementary, Liberty Hill ISD
  • Andrea Cardon, Williams Ledger Elementary, Copperas Cove ISD

Celebrate Lone Star Día in April
For more than 20 years, Children’s Day/Book Day, or El día de los niños/El día de los libros has emphasized the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It is a national celebration of children, families, and reading that culminates each year on April 30. Start planning your Dia programming now! You’ll find resources on the TLA website; and on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission website.
2019 TLA Elections
TLA Elections will open on February 19
Eligible voters will receive an email on Tuesday from SBS with voting instructions and login credentials. The email will be from noreply@directvote.net . To ensure your election specific broadcast email arrives in your inbox, simply add noreply@directvote.net  as an approved sender. 

The 2019 TLA Elections will close March 13 at 11:59pm. 

Candidate bios and statements of concern for those running for all offices are found by logging into the Members Only website and clicking on View Candidate Biographies. Candidates for the Executive Board provided additional information which can be found here. 
TLA 2019 Highlights
President’s All-Conference Party - Tuesday, April 16
Relax and have fun with the TLA President! Take part in live band karaoke with Austin's own Don't Panic or get your photo done in the quick draw booth. Refreshments and a cash bar will be available. This event is open to all conference attendees. 6:15-8:15pm, Hilton Downtown Hotel.
 
Reminder! Conference is Cashless 
TLA 2019 is a cashless event. We'll accept credit, debit, or checks at on-site registration and in the TLA Store.
 
TASL Maker Playground
The TASL Maker Playground features speakers from all over the country who will showcase Makerspace tools and provide participants with activities for K-12 school librarians. The playground will be open Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 17 from 10am – 5pm in Exhibit Hall 1. Daily Schedule
Continuing Education
All webinars are FREE to TLA members. Visit the TLA Continuing Education page for more information.
Names in the News
  • Kenneth Ferstl, former instructor in the School of Library & Information Sciences at the University of North Texas passed away. 
  • Jeaux (Joseph) White, from Ector County’s library, passed away on February 13, 2019.
Texas Library Association
3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, Texas 78746-6763
Phone: 512-328-1518 | Fax: 512-328-8852