By Jennifer LaBoon, TLA Executive
Board Representative at Large - School, 2013-2016; TLA Strategic Planning
Steering Committee, 2015-16; Fort Worth ISD Coordinator, Library
Technology
Happy New Year, School Library Colleagues! The new calendar year is a great time to
reflect on our profession, where we are headed, and especially how our state
association is working to provide leadership, services, and support to meet our
professional needs. Texas Library Association
is in the midst of the strategic planning process, designing a map for the next
three years. The time is now to provide
your input! TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
A TLA committee has surveyed the membership in a variety of
ways, and analyzed the results to see where the association is now. These results were assembled into what is
called an Environmental Scan. Thanks to everyone who participated in the data
collection process beginning last summer at Annual Assembly in Austin! The results can be accessed by visiting the
TLA website’s Strategic Planning Page: http://www.txla.org/stratplanupdate Give it a
look. Please. It is in your own best interest as a TLA/TASL member.
From here, you can email feedback to the committee to
include your thoughts on the findings and how they should shape the future of
the association. The committee hoped to
identify the current political, demographic, and economic factors and trends
that impact our profession and our state.
The statistics are quite interesting—did you know that of
the 4,400 who reported their age, that almost 60% of our association is age 46
or above? The committee raises the
question of how to transition our younger members into leadership positions as
our aging membership retires. How would
you like to see that aspect of TLA improved?
Another finding that speaks to school librarians—how do we
accommodate the need for both connected and unplugged physical spaces in our
libraries? With makerspaces, 1:1 devices
for students, and digital content becoming prevalent, what is the role of the
library as place in meeting the changing learning environment? And, perhaps more importantly, how do we
communicate that role to our stakeholders?
The deadline is
quickly approaching: January 15!
Take a little time as you get back into your routines following the
holiday break to take a look, and let us hear from you!
School librarians who are serving on the Steering Committee
representing you are Sharon Amastae, Naomi Bates, Liz Philippi, and
myself. Please let any of us know if you
have any ideas that need to be shared!
We convene in Austin next week—Friday, January 15th.
Thanks again to all who have participated in the process already. And thanks to everyone who takes some time to
read over the Environmental Scan posted on the website and is willing to share
additional thoughts!
Hope you all have a wonderful 2016! Start the year right by
looking at what TLA could be doing for you.
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