Mission & History

Whether promoting intellectual freedom or working together to strengthen libraries and demonstrate their value, TLA is the embodiment of the aspirations first conceived over 123 years ago.

Mission Statement

The Texas Library Association’s mission is to embrace, unite, and amplify voices of the library community through advocacy and education to ensure library excellence for all Texans.

Vision Statement

The Texas Library Association is an integral partner, innovative leader, and passionate advocate for Texas libraries and librarians.

Defining Value

The Texas Library Association cultivates a welcoming community through equitable policies, practices, and programs that treat all with dignity and respect.

Core Organizational Values:

• Continuous Improvement Towards Excellence in Libraries and Librarianship
• Diversity and Inclusiveness
• Equity of Access to Information in a Changing Environment
• Ethical Responsibility and Integrity
• Intellectual Freedom
• Literacy and Lifelong Learning
• Social Responsibility and the Public Good

In the Fall of 2024, the TLA Executive Board and TLA leaders envisioned an association that not only continues our legacy of advocacy and professional excellence but also reinvents our internal operations for a rapidly changing environment. This plan sets out the course for the next three years.

Our Vision

In 2028, TLA will be recognized as:

• A Resilient, Financially Sustainable Association with diversified revenue streams that ensure stability even amid changing political and economic climates.
• A Champion of Intellectual Freedom and Legislative Impact: A trusted resource for members facing intellectual freedom challenges and legislative issues.
• A Leader in Professional Growth and Inclusive Engagement: An innovator in offering varied, accessible professional development that meets the evolving needs of all library professionals.
• An Agile, Transparent Organization: One that has transformed its governance and operations into a streamlined, responsive, and efficient system.

Strategic Pillars:

About TLA

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the association is governed by a Council made up of voting and non-voting members. The Council meets twice at the TLA Annual Conference and twice at the Annual Assembly. As the association’s policy-making and chief governing body, the Council adopts the annual budget and legislative platform.

The Executive Board serves as the central management board and recommends matters of policy, budget, and operations to the Council. Board members are elected annually by the membership.