Volume 41 No. 3 | March 2022 |
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Texans for the Right to Read
The Texas Library Association (TLA) has launched a grassroots coalition, Texans for the Right to Read, to amplify and unify the voices of librarians, educators, parents, students, authors, and others who oppose widespread, coordinated efforts to apply subjective criteria in order to ban books across the state.
TLA believes that individuals have the right to free inquiry and the equally important right to form their own opinions. Freedom in selecting materials is a necessary safeguard to the freedom to read and must be protected against irresponsible attempts by self-appointed censors to abridge it. Learn more and join the coalition.
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Broadband Listening Tour
Want to have a say in developing Texas’ new statewide broadband plan? To guide the strategic vision of Texas' new Broadband Development Office, Comptroller Glenn Hegar will tour 12 communities to get Texans' insights about internet access. This is a great opportunity to share the important role that libraries play as community anchor institutions offering technology access, and digital literacy skills training and support to help bridge the digital divide. Learn more and register to share your insights at a stop on the tour near you.
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March 16 Deadline to Vote in TLA Elections
There is still time to cast your vote! TLA elections close at 11:59pm Wednesday, March 16. If you are eligible to vote (must have been a current TLA 2022 member by January 31), you received an email from TLA with a link to your ballot. Questions? Contact Christy Reynolds at TLA.
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Welcome to New TLA Staff
Please welcome Kelly Mantay, Education and Programs Manager; and Casey Rice, Exhibits and Sponsorship Coordinator, to TLA! Kelly will be working with Lovdy Grossman and Michelle Cruz as part of the education team, developing programming for members. Kelly was most recently a social studies teacher at Leander ISD. Casey will be working with exhibitors and vendors, on Cindy Boyle’s team. Casey was most recently with the City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department and 123 Home Care. We’re glad to have them at TLA!
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Texas Center for the Book Celebrates Lone Star Día with Grants to Libraries
This year’s Lone Star Día is April 30, and the Texas Center for the Book is partnering with First Book to bring multicultural children’s books to Texas libraries through its grant program. The Lone Star Día Grant provides $200 in book credits to help libraries and literacy nonprofits purchase diverse titles to augment their Lone Star Día programs. Learn more.
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Dr. Yvonne Chandler Celebration of Life
The University of North Texas Department of Information Science invites alumni and friends to a dinner during the TLA 2022 Annual Conference, which also features a celebration of the life of Dr. Yvonne J. Chandler. Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Sheraton Ft. Worth Downtown Hotel – Magnolia Room. Register by April 20.
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Becky Calzada is one of 10 librarians from around the country chosen to participate in the 2022 ALA Policy Corps.
Bill Hess was named CEO of Wall Family Enterprise; the company includes many early-learning brands including Demco.
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Registration rates increase April 1
Thank you to everyone who has registered for TLA 2022! If you have not registered yet, don't forget that rates go up on April 1. Sign up today.
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Call for TLA 2022 volunteers
Are you available to help the 2022 TLA Local Arrangements Committee April 25-28?
Volunteers should be willing to volunteer for a minimum of 2 consecutive hours. While librarians must be registered for the conference, paraprofessionals and support staff who are not registered for the conference will receive a complimentary exhibits-only pass with four hours of volunteer service. Fill out the volunteer form.
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Register for Ticketed Events
Buy your tickets now for BCRT Author Session, Evening with the Authors, Texas Bluebonnet Award Luncheon and more! If you’ve already registered for TLA 2022 and want to add ticketed events, log in to the meeting registration site and purchase tickets. Tickets must be purchased by April 1. Learn more about ticketed author sessions.
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Buy your tickets for Preconference Sessions
Get a jump start on your conference experience by attending a preconference session! All TLA 2022 preconference sessions will take place Monday, April 25. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, April 1.
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Need an American Sign Language Interpreter?
If you are attending conference and need an ASL interpreter, please let Michelle Cruz know at michellec@txla.org as soon as possible. Thank you.
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Warning about Hotel Poachers
Please book your Fort Worth hotel rooms via our official onPeak housing site. Do not book through any other vendor claiming to be working with TLA. OnPeak is the official housing supplier. Need help or have questions? Please contact onPeak directly at txla@onpeak.com or 800-243-1205. Make your reservations through onPeak today.
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March 29 | 3:30 - 4:30pm
TLA Talks: Censorship in Academia
Academic libraries are not immune from the push by some state legislators and administrators to quash discussion of "critical race theory" topics and thus threaten academic freedom. Recent threats to remove academic faculty that teach topics that are perceived to be controversial, and question systemic racism also reach to library faculty and staff. We will discuss current initiatives threatening academic tenure, the role of faculty status for librarians, and strategies to address these issues in your library and institution. This webinar is free. Register.
June 2 | 8:00am - 5:00pm
TLA Summit
This one-day virtual conference will bring together experts from around the country to discuss new developments, complex challenges, and best practices of librarianship. Sessions from the full-day virtual conference will be available for viewing for 30 days after the event. Register.
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November 13-17
TALL Texans Application Open
The TALL Texans application is open! Click here to apply. TALL Texans 2022 will be held in person at Montserrat Retreat Center, Lake Dallas, November 13-17, 2022. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2022.
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July 24-25
TLA Launch Leadership Program
Designed for library professionals with less than five years of experience, Launch will be held July 24-25 at the Westin Austin at the Domain. Sessions will be taught by dynamic leaders in the field. For more information and to register, go here.
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