The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is a one-time, $7.17 billion funding program authorized by the American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) and directed at remote learning through libraries and K-12 schools. Application period ends on August 13, 2021. Fund period runs July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022. Visit the ECF or the American Library Association’s dedicated page to get up to speed …
Is your library ready to host in-person programming again? The Writers’ League of Texas is seeking rural libraries interested in hosting their free, 3 hour writing workshop, Texas Writes. Each workshop includes two presentations on the craft of writing by published authors, plus a moderated conversation and Q&A. Workshops are free and open to all. Twelve to fifteen rural libraries …
In far West Texas, good things are happening for residents in Jeff Davis County. Local leaders of the Jeff Davis County Library, the Friends of the Library and the local food pantry have formed a unique partnership to serve their community by meeting them where they are with a mobile unit dubbed Mobile Comunidad. The new van will deliver food, …
Children of color make up about 40% of the population, yet recent statistics show that the number of children’s books featuring people of color has hovered around 10% for the past several years. Other types of diversity—including ability, socioeconomic status and LGBT people and families—are also sorely lacking. Children should be able to see themselves reflected in the world around …
A Tocker Foundation grant in 2020 provided new books, a security system and a new outdoor drop box for book returns. Library staff members were thrilled by patron response to all three, but they were unprepared for the excitement generated by this upgraded book drop. Nearly 1,000 people checked it out on their Facebook page. If you ‘judge a book …
Small, public libraries* with little or no e-book content recently got a boost when TSLAC began purchasing digital books for libraries to lend through SimplyE, an e-book app. Over 6,000 titles and growing in this collection that includes popular adult fiction and non-fiction, selections from various university presses and TIME for Kids. A focus on ease of use means readers …
We all know 2020 has been a year like no other. In fact, the Tocker Foundation had a record low number of grant requests in June. Shocking? Not really. The likely reason is that librarians were scrambling to adapt to the requirements of living in a pandemic and still provide needed services to their communities. They are thoughtful, civic leaders …
