We had a great talk with TLA Executive Director Shirley Robinson about TLA's move into virtual programming, TLA Talks, District meetings and what members can look forward to going into the fall. Watch the video here.

District meetings provide regional settings for presenting continuing education, carrying on legislative activities, and recruiting members. The annual fall meetings are an opportunity for local librarians, para-professionals, and trustees from all types of libraries to meet, network, and set a foundation for collaborative efforts. All District meetings this fall will be virtual. For a list of dates, go here.

New this year - the Tour of Texas! Since all District meetings will be virtual, TLA has created a unique opportunity called “Tour of Texas.” For a fee ($80 for members, $100 for nonmembers, $60 for students, or unemployed or on furlough) you will be able to attend all District meetings, or as many as you like. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about all of TLA’s districts firsthand.

This TLA leadership program is designed for library professionals with less than five years of experience. Participants will learn and expand leadership skills which will serve them throughout their careers through group work, self-directed learning, and internal reflection. This year, LAUNCH is fully virtual. Each session will be taught by a dynamic leader in the field. Dates: October 23 – November 20. Format: The five-week course will consist of weekly online meetings 1-4pm on Fridays, with homework in between. Homework will consist of readings, videos, and small group work. The class is limited to 40 students. Click here for more information and to register.

It is with great sadness that we share that Dr. Yvonne Chandler, former president of TLA (2013-2014) and Associate Professor at the Department of Information Science at the University of North Texas, passed away on August 8. Yvonne was a mentor, teacher and friend to many at TLA, and our deepest condolences go to her family and friends. She will be greatly missed. In a statement, UNT said "Her devotion to her students and her passion for shaping their career paths are a part of her legacy. Her commitment to impact the quality of library education and have diversity in the workforce of the library profession was evident in all her professional activities."

Thank you to everyone who attended our first-ever TLA Virtual Summer of Learning! There were amazing presentations from authors and exhibitors, panelists and experts. Reminder: Virtual attendees, you have until August 31 to view the content in our Virtual Portal. Remember, you have access to 132 virtual sessions (educational sessions plus exhibitor showcases). For CE, we have 66+ possible SBEC hours and 33+ TSLAC credit hours.

Dedicated TLA volunteers’ hard work and skill keep the association moving forward. Now more than ever, we need your talents and knowledge to ensure that TLA continues to provide the best opportunities for library professionals in Texas. TLA President-elect Dan Burgard will begin working on appointments to TLA committees this fall. If you are interested in getting involved, please complete this online interest form by September 25 and we will contact you.

As a 501(c)(3) education non-profit, the Texas Library Association relies on the generosity of library supporters to enable us to carry out our mission. Thank you to all of the individuals, organizations, and foundations that donated this past fiscal year (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020). Thank you FY2020 donors!

TLA 2021: Celebrate Differences. Empower Voices

We are delighted to announce that we will have both in-person and virtual options for TLA 2021. Mark your calendars for April 20-23, 2021. Registration will open later this fall.

Please book your hotel early for the best selection and price.

You can view the recordings and read through the chat for the sessions here. TLA Talks will resume in September and continue through the fall.

Find the free AZ webinars here.