TX Only

[Mary Ellen Scribner <scribner@TENET.EDU>]

Texas School Librarians:

The registration for participation in TLA Legislative Day is much lower
than in previous years, and this is of great concern to the Executive
Board and the Legislative Committee.  Two issues before the Legislature
this session are of paramount importance to school librarians, and we
have a major stake in a couple of others.

Legislative Day is Tuesday, February 11.  Registration begins Monday at 3
P.M. at the Hyatt Regency On Town Lake, 208 Barton Springs Road, Austin.
If you can attend only part of the day on Tuesday and arrive after
registration ends at 10 A.M., you can go to Room 314 in the State Library
which will be used as an information center and rest stop for delegates.

If you can only attend the Social Time from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. at the
Hyatt Ballroom, please consider that an important contribution also as
this is an opportunity to talk with legislators, legislative aides,
special guests, and other library supporters.

Issues of Major Importance to School Librarians:
Texas Library Connection:  TLA recommends support of the Texas Education
Agency budget, which contains an annual funding increase for the TLC, a
highly successful library resource sharing project, from $650,000 to $1.3
million.  These additional funds would allow many more school libraries
to participate in the benefits of resource-sharing through the TLC.

School Library Consultation and Assistance:  TLA supports the full budget
request of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, including
funding to add staff to provide consultation exclusively for school
libraries to assist those libraries to achieve the school library
standards drafted by the State Library upon legislative mandate in the
last legislative session.

The two main issues of interest to all types of libraries are Resource
Sharing and Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF).

If you would like more information about the Legislative Day schedule and
events or any of the issues of concern to TLA, please feel free to e-mail
me directly.  My home phone number is 512/255-8428 if you want to call in
the evening or this weekend.  Please think about participating!  TIA

Mary Ellen Scribner, Librarian                  512 464-4033
Westwood High School, Round Rock ISD            512 464-4020 (FAX)
12400 Mellow Meadow Dr.                         scribner@tenet.edu
Austin, TX 78750-1824