Volume 40 No. 7 | October 2021
Dobie Grant Now Accepting Applications
The J. Frank Dobie Library Trust Awards Committee is accepting applications for the 2022 awards through December 17, 2021. Applications are open to public libraries in Texas who serve a population of 20,000 or less (per the library’s annual TSLAC report); are legally established; and are open for service at least 20 hours per week. Learn more and apply.
Humanities Grants for Libraries: Apply Now
ALA invites libraries to apply for funding through its American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries opportunity, a grantmaking program to deliver relief to libraries recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, ALA will distribute $2 million to help anchor libraries as strong humanities institutions as they emerge and rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic.

Register for a free Oct. 27 webinar to learn about the application process. Information on how to apply here.
TLA Launch Leadership Program: Registration Open
Designed for library professionals with less than five years of experience, Launch will be February 13 - 14, 2022 at the Westin Austin at the Domain. Participants will learn and expand leadership skills which will serve them throughout their careers through group work, self-directed learning, and internal reflection. Each session will be taught by a dynamic leader in the field. For more information and to register, go here.
TLA Engage Tip of the Month: Discussion Group Etiquette
  • State concisely and clearly the topic of your comments in the subject line. This allows members to respond more appropriately to your posting and makes it easier for members to search the archives by subject.
  • Send messages such as "thanks for the information" or "me, too" to individuals, not to the entire list. Do this by using the "Reply to Sender" link.
  • Do not send administrative messages, such as “remove me from the list,” to the group. Instead, use the web interface to change your settings or to remove yourself from a list.
Job opening at TLA
We have an opening for an Exhibits and Sponsorship Coordinator; details and application information here.
Names in the News
Kasey Hyde, the longtime exhibits and sponsorship coordinator at TLA, is now coordinator of member services at the Texas Rural Education Association.

Jennifer LaBoon is now the North Texas Regional Sales Manager of Bound to Stay Bound Books.

Amanda Rountree has replaced Talia Sherer at Macmillan Publishers.
TLA 2022
Conference Registration Open Soon
TLA 2022 registration will open before the end of October. We will provide information on COVID-19 safety policies and procedures in place for the conference when registration opens. Additionally, we will offer a conference/membership package through Dec 15, 2021. 

Book Your Hotel for TLA 2022
Hotel reservations through OnPeak, the TLA 2022 official housing service, are now open. Hotels are already more than 50 percent booked so make your reservations soon. Book your hotel soon for the best rates.

Great Ideas Lightning Talks at TLA 2022
Have you been doing something unique and innovative in your library? Share your great ideas in the fast format of a lightning talk. Great Ideas Lighting Talks are five-minute sessions that engage the audience and feature new or innovative ideas. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2021. More information and link to application here.
Upcoming Events
October 15:
Library Instruction Round Table Summit: Keynote speaker Patricia Becker-Johnson from El Paso ISD will share ideas for integrating technology and library skills through the use of Google Slides and Digital Escape Rooms. More information here.
 
October 15-16:
District 6 Fall Meeting: virtual. Rates: members $20; non-members $25;
presenters, students, furloughed/ unemployed librarians $10.
 
October 28:
District 7; virtual; $20
 
October 29:
District 10; virtual; $20
 
October 30:
District 9, in person, $20

November 4:
District 4, virtual, $10 members, $15 non-members.

November 5:
District 3, virtual, $20. View the schedule here.

November 6:
District 8, virtual, free.
 
You can find all the district meetings on this schedule page.