For years, Brownwood Community Library Director Becky Isbell wanted to bring 3D printing to her library. As is the case at many libraries, she saw the technology’s potential to spark creativity, build workforce skills, and give patrons hands-on experience with emerging technology. But she also understood that a 3D printer alone wouldn’t create a successful…
At the 2026 Texas Library Association Annual Conference, I had the privilege of leading a discussion on marketing yourself as a library professional. Although the session took place over the course of an hour, the ideas behind it had been years in the making. What began as scattered thoughts gradually evolved through conversations with my…
Every successful summer reading program begins with a great theme. The most memorable ones happen when a community comes together to bring that theme to life. That is exactly what happened at Hondo Public Library during this year’s Summer Reading Program, “Unearth a Story,” which explored paleontology, archaeology, genealogy, and hidden histories. Thanks to a…
Walk into the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s Shoal Creek Records Center and the first thing you’ll notice is scale. Towering shelves stretch across a 105,000-square-foot warehouse, holding more than 369,000 boxes of government records. Everything from court documents and highway plans to university records and historical deeds is carefully stored in a climate-controlled…
While attending a recent professional learning network meetup, Director Gordon of Gotham Public Library—a fictional, small, rural library in Texas—heard a cautionary tale about a neighboring library’s lack of a personnel policy. Recognizing the potential risks, she resolved to review her own library’s policies. The Smallville Library employed 25 staff members and operated for years…
Library-Centered Community Discovery: Two Texas Summer Learning Stories Libraries across Texas are proving that summer reading is about much more than books during the 2026 Unearth a Story Summer Reading Program. By combining literacy with hands-on experiences, libraries help communities turn curiosity into engagement and learning into lasting memories. The following success stories illustrate how…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Core Connections: Building Sustainable Support Through Funding July 14, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) Lyndsay Forbes, Project Manager and Grants Specialist, will lead a discussion on how to leverage grants, funding opportunities,…
Public libraries bridge access gaps, whether that means books, internet access, or workforce resources. Innovation spaces represent the next evolution of that mission. Not everyone can afford a 3D printer, professional recording equipment, design software, or specialized training. By providing those resources in a free and welcoming environment, libraries ensure that innovation is not limited…
Libraries have always been places of discovery, creativity, and lifelong learning but Texas State University is building on that tradition by combining emerging technology with hands-on, immersive experiences that give students new ways to learn, create, and solve problems. Located on the first floor of Alkek Library, Alkek One is a multidisciplinary innovation hub designed…
The Pottsboro Area Library is no stranger to innovation. Over the years, the small, rural library (service population: 4,150) has launched initiatives that have attracted attention far beyond North Texas, from creating the nation’s first telehealth hub to developing a drone pilot certification program that helps students build career-ready skills. But the library’s latest initiative…
Artificial intelligence can feel overwhelming for libraries. Between privacy concerns, confusing headlines, and pressure to “keep up,” it is easy to see why many library workers feel uncertain about what role they should play. But according to Jose Ruiz-Vazquez, assistant manager at the Milwood Branch of Austin Public Library, librarians already have the exact skills…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference Professional Development Award June 15, 2026 The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Training Office and NNLM Region 1 are requesting Professional Development Award applications to attend the…
Inside the Archives and Information Services Division (ARIS) at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin, preserving history is often a race against time powered by scanners, film machines, forensic computers, and enormous amounts of digital storage. From fragile Civil War-era documents and aging cassette tapes to born-digital government records, ARIS uses a…
Younger Texans don’t always think about a library as a destination for a good time. They might think of them as a quiet place to study or check out a book. But for Alexzandra Stroud, libraries have become something much bigger: community spaces filled with creativity, technology, learning, and connection. We first heard about Alexzandra…
The Family Place™ Training Institute brings together passionate library staff from across Texas for an inspiring experience focused on supporting families in their communities. Bee Cave Public Library became a Family Place™ location back in 2016, and graciously hosted our 2026 Family Place™ Training Institute. Staff from libraries across the state, from El Paso to…