a loss beyond words. Your school library, your community. School libraries are much more than literacy centers. They serve as a safe environment to explore and learn, access new information technologies, and collaborate with peers. When a school library program is destroyed by a natural disaster, the students and the community feel the immediate loss of a valuable resource that reaches far beyond books. Since 2006, the American Association of School Librarians, with funding from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, has given more than 1.5 million dollars in grants to over 150 school libraries across the country affected by natural disasters. APPLY TODAY FOR A BEYOND WORDS GRANT: WWW.ALA.ORG/AASL/ DISASTERRELIEF TEXAS LIBRARY JOURNAL contents Volume 91, No 1 Spring 2015 Published by the TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION President’s Letter: TLA by the Numbers .....................................................................3 Sharon Amastae Membership in TLA is open to any Guest Editorial: School Librarians Are Teachers First .............................................. 4 individual or institution interested Dorcas Hand, Susi Grissom, and Julie Briggs in Texas libraries. Toolkit for School Administrators-Hiring and Retaining Librarians ...........................6 To find out more about TLA, order TLA Terry Roper and Maria Elena Ovalle publications, or place advertising in Policy Revolution! An Initiative for Libraries in America .......................................... 11 Texas Library Journal, write to A Project of the American Library Association Texas Library Association 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401 Summer Reading Program Collaboration: An Outstanding Austin, Texas 78746-6763; Opportunity for a Public Library, School Library, call 1-800-580-2TLA (2852); or visit and University Course Partnership .......................................................................... 17 our website at www.txla.org. Dana Tucker and Judi Moreillon with Carol Richmond and Michelle Lynn Newsnotes ................................................................................................................. 20 A directory of TLA membership is available in the “Members Only” section TLA 2015 CONFERENCE CONTENT #txla15 of the website. Imagine, Innovate, Collaborate ................................................................................ 24 Opinions expressed in Texas Library Gloria Meraz Journal are those of the authors and are Corporate Sponsors .................................................................................................. 25 not necessarily endorsed by TLA. Exhibiting Companies ............................................................................................... 26 Journal Staff Conference Information: www.txla.org/annual-conference ON THE COVER: Library supporters champion funding for our state’s libraries. Editor Gloria Meraz TLA thanks our library advocates for providing testimony at the Senate Finance Layout/Graphics Mary Ann Emerson hearing on February 4, 2015 at the State Capitol. From left to right: Danielle Plumer, Jennifer LaBoon, Leah Mann, Kyle Whipple, Jeanne Standley, Chris Custer, Advertising Mgr. Kasey Hyde Donna Kearley, Robin Stout, Jim Johnson, and Traci Jensen. Printer Capital Printing TLJ 91:1 ADVERTISERS © Texas Library Association AASL ..............................................................................................................Inside Front Cover Texas Library Journal (ISSN 0040-4446) is Albert Whitman & Company ........................................................................................... 13 published quarterly in spring, summer, fall, and Baker & Taylor/YBP Library Services......................................................Outside Back Cover winter by the Texas Library Association, 3355 Biblionix .................................................................................................................................8 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, Texas 78746- Boyds Mills Press .................................................................................................................4 6763. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas. Drive.org ........................................................................................................ Inside Back Cover POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Egmont ............................................................................................................................... 11 Library Journal, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, Texas 78746-6763. Subscription price: to Peachtree Publishing ..........................................................................................................5 members of TLA, 94 cents, included in annual dues; Penguin Academic ...............................................................................................................2 to nonmembers, $25 per year for domestic, $30 out- Texas Woman’s University ..................................................................................................7 of-country. Single issues: $7. TLC/RDA Express .............................................................................................................. 21 1 Texas Library Journal • Spring 2015 PENGUIN PUBLISHING GROUP SEE THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM OR VISIT OUR BOOTH FOR EVENT DETAILS Thursday, April 16, 2015 Wednesday, April 15, 2015 6:30 – 8:30 pm 2:00 – 3:50 pm Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs STATE TREASURES: TLA EVENING WITH TEXAS AUTHORS PANEL THE AUTHORS Featuring JEFF GUINN, Featuring author of GLORIOUS Book signing to follow Thursday, April 16, 2015 10:00 – 11:50 am STEAMPUNK & FANTASY PANEL: THE LURE OF DISTANT WORLDS Featuring RACHEL CAINE ILONA ANDREWS , author of author of C. J. BOX author of INK AND BONE MAGIC BREAKS ENDANGERED Book signing to follow JOSEPH FINDER, author of THE FIXER Book signing to follow Friday, April 17, 2015 • 10:00 – 11:50 am BOOK BUZZ THE NEW BOOKS ARE COMING WWW.PENGUIN.COM/LIBRARY Penguin Publishing Group Library Marketing Department 375 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014 President’s Perspective by SHARON AMASTAE TLA by the Numbers hen I was a middle school Legislature, you have 2 potential librarian, a social studies teacher advocates in Austin right now. Can you Wbrought me a t-shirt that read, name yours? Have you talked with them “My head is full of children”– and it about the needs of libraries in Texas? Have usually was. These days my head is full of you told them stories about your library TLA, our 2015 Conference, and Texas and the people who use it? It’s never too libraries and librarians. For fun, let’s look late to begin this relationship. Visit the at TLA by the numbers, in the random TLA website for the information you’ll way our minds work. need to start the conversation. First, our Association. And now our 2015 Conference, April information booth in the convention 10 grassroots districts form TLA. 14-17 in Austin… center for other nearby eating bargains. Looking at our 2015 membership, they 12 square blocks make up the The 3 events in our first ever TLA TRI- range in size from 1143 members in Austin Convention Center, and it logy - biking, swimming, and running District 8 to 80 in my own District 6.* has 205,497 square feet of exhibit – will make you feel like number 1 in If you haven’t tried out the filters in the space. No wonder you’ll want to bring the fitness department! You don’t have to Membership Search feature on the TLA comfortable shoes! In the Exhibit Hall, compete in all three, but some will. And website, do! Who knew we have 29 you’ll find new ideas and resources, get don’t forget the Friday morning health members named Sharon? to talk directly to vendors, try out new event, Body Resistance to a Beat. In addition to the districts, we have 61 software, and save time by evaluating Treat yourself to at least one of our 11 TLA units – from divisions to round products right on the spot. Don’t forget to special meal events at conference. Not tables to interest groups to committees thank our exhibitors for supporting TLA. only will you meet librarians from across to task forces. When librarians ask me 350+ face-to-face programs make the state, you’ll also enjoy a meal with an how to get involved in TLA, I always say our conference the can’t-miss event for author – and sometimes more than one. that these unit listings are the best place librarians in Texas. Included are 12 pre- It’s not too late to add a meal to your to start. And if you don’t find the group registration. that’s for you, start one! conferences, the day-long Tech Camp, and 13 hands-on-labs covering topics Children in 37 shelters will enjoy the 15 TLA staff members work to make that range from book repair to 3-D pajamas we bring to conference as part of ours the very best state library association. printing. You’ll learn lots of new skills our service project partnership with The There’s nothing they won’t do to help with these and other offerings! Pajama Project. Our pajamas (newborn Texas libraries and librarians, and they to XL) will be given along with a book to Planning to do TLA “on the cheap”? prove it day after day. children in need. Leave your donation in 23 Don’t forget the minute bus ride from the crib near the registration area. 9 Reading lists are created each year by the airport to downtown Austin for only TLA members. They’re a fantastic resource $1.75. Choose a hotel with breakfast 6 tables will fill the brand-new Sync Up – not only for your library, but also for included