Volume 41 No. 7 | September 2022

Texans for the Right to Read: 3,000 + members and growing
TLA's grassroots coalition, Texans for the Right to Read, amplifies and unifies 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. Currently, we have nearly 3,100 members and more people join every day. If you haven't already, please join our coalition and encourage others to do so.
JobLine in TLA Engage
We have a new resource for job seekers and employers; the TLA Jobline community in TLA Engage. Members, from now on when you post a job opening to TLA Engage, please post it to the TLA Jobline community. All members are able to post here and both members and non-members can view the openings. The public is able to see this page, so please feel free to share the link to it. Our old jobline board will be viewable until October 1, and then will be decommissioned as we are moving all of our job listings to this new area.
Calling all TLA Members to TribFest

Make big connections from the classroom to the headlines at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 22-24 in downtown Austin. At Texas’ breakout politics and policy event, students, educators and everyday Texans will get the latest on today’s news from the people in charge. Join us there to take in 120+ big-thinking conversations on public and higher ed, the future of journalism, voting in Texas, why more women don’t serve in higher office, what’s ahead for the next legislative session and so much more.

TribFest is offering a special educator discount to all Texas Library Association members. Use code TTF22JOINUS at checkout to attend for just $75!
TLA Technology Update
TLA has invested in a new, robust, web-based Association Management System (AMS) called Nimble. This new AMS will be much more user-friendly and will streamline workflow for the TLA staff. The transition to Nimble is planned for early November. There will be a short period of time in late October when the current TLA members-only site will be shut down before Nimble goes live. We will post updates regularly in TLA Engage.
TLA 2022 Membership Closes September 30
The opportunity for 2022 membership (joining and renewing) will close September 30. Membership rates for 2023 will be posted on October 1. We will open 2023 membership in early November in the new Nimble system.
TLA 2023 Conference 
Registration rates for this year’s annual conference will be posted on October 1 on txla.org and in TLA Engage. Conference registration will open in early November in the new Nimble system.

Everyone who submitted programs via the conference proposal process should receive notice by September 9 as to whether or not their program was selected. Please direct any follow up questions to Kelly Mantay.
TLA Awards & Scholarships Open September 15
Applications for TLA awards and scholarships will open September 15. More information about scholarships can be found here; learn about the TLA Awards here. We know there is so much amazing work being done in Texas libraries; please apply to help your work get recognized.
Library Grants
The J. Frank Dobie Library Trust Grant assists small Texas libraries in purchasing books. Applications for the 2022 grants are being accepted through December 16, 2022. Libraries which serve a population of 20,000 or less are eligible. Learn more and apply.
Applications for the Jeannette and Jim Larson Grant (mystery genre) and the Woll Memorial Fund (grant to attend annual conference) will open Sept. 15.
Adult Literacy Conference
The ProLiteracy 2022 Conference on Adult Education will be held in San Antonio from October 3-5. It will feature 100+ presentations and workshops that explore how organizations and practitioners can collaborate and deliver innovative, effective services for adult learners. Learn more and register.
Texas Bluebonnet Award registration
Don't forget to register your school or public library for Texas Bluebonnet Award voting! Register online here. If you are unable to make your payment online, you can register by mailing in a paper check and this form. For a wealth of resources, including tracking charts for this year’s TBA nominees, go to the Resources page. You can find the current TBA list here; and this is the guide to voting.
Names in the News
Carter Cook retired as director of Fort Worth ISD library media services.

Julius C. Jefferson Jr. and James G. Neal (both former presidents of the American Library Association) were appointed to the National Museum and Library Services Board.

Howard Marks was named director of the Ector County Library.

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) was awarded a two-year, $240,442 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for UTSA Libraries to digitize and catalog audiovisual items that were produced by the Institute of Texan Cultures.
Continuing Education
All times, unless noted otherwise, are Central Time. Register online for any of these events via this link.
For more information about upcoming district meetings, go here.

September 19-20
Galveston | Full schedule
Cost: $169 for TCAL members; register by September 14

September 20
TLA Talks: Hiring and Retention in the Age of the Great Resignation
Webinar | 3:30 - 4:30pm
Cost: free for members, $25 non-members

September 27
District 2 Fall Meeting
Amarillo | 9am - 3pm
Cost: $25; register by September 20

October 1
District 1 Fall Meeting
Abilene | 8:30am - 1:30pm
Cots: $20; register by September 23

October 14
District 5 & District 7 Combined Fall Meeting
Decatur | 8am - 3:20pm
Cost: $20 members, $30 non-member; register by October 7

October 14
Virtual | 8:45 am - 4:10 pm (CDT)
Dr. Shanna Peeples is the keynote speaker.
Cost: $30 members, $40 non-members

October 18
TLA Talks: No Fear, Connect with Elected Officials with Confidence
Webinar | 3:30 - 4:30pm
Cost: free for members, $25 non-members

October 21
District 3 Fall Meeting
Virtual | 9am - Noon
Cost: $10 members; $15 non-members; register by October 20

October 27
TLA Council II Meeting
Virtual | 4 pm
Voting and non-voting members of the 2022-2023 Council are expected to attend, and members of the association are encouraged to view the meeting. Free.

October 29
District 9 Fall Meeting
Midland | 9am - 3:15pm
Cost: $10; register by October 19

November 4 - 5
District 6 Fall Meeting | El Paso
Friday, 6pm, An Evening with Author Yasmín Ramírez
Saturday, 8am - 2pm programs
Cost: $20 members; $25 non-members; register by October 28

November 10
District 10 Fall Meeting
San Antonio | 7:30am - 4:30pm
Cost: $15; register by November 4

November 12
District 8 Fall Meeting
Houston | 8am - 2:30pm
Cost: $30 members; $35 non-members; $20 students/retirees
Register by October 31

November 18
District 4 Fall Meeting
Harlingen | 9am - 3:15pm
Cost: $20 members; $30 non-members; register by November 11