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Lead, Serve and Grow with TLA

Enhance your leadership skills and make an impact in the library community by volunteering with the Texas Library Association. There are many ways to get involved from serving on a standing committee to running for a unit officer position.

A TLA volunteer helping a conference attendee at a help desk.

Volunteer Today! 

Volunteer Portal

If you’re interested in volunteering for more than one standing committee or unit, please submit a separate form for each opportunity.

All submissions are reviewed by other TLA volunteers, the TLA Executive Director, and the TLA President. In the fall, officers and the President-Elect will begin forming slates for elections and filling open standing committee positions.

  • TLA online elections are held each February.

  • Unit elections take place before the TLA Annual Conference.

If you’re elected or appointed, your term begins at the conclusion of the TLA Annual Conference in April.

What is a Unit officer button white text on turquoise background

A unit officer is a TLA member who volunteered to run for office and  is elected by their unit’s membership to serve on the executive leadership team for a division, district or round table (unit).

What is a Standing Committee Member button, white text on purple background

A standing committee member is a TLA member who volunteered to serve on a committee, and is appointed by the TLA president to serve on one of the standing committees.

What are the expectations to serve as a unit officer or committee member?

      • Maintain active TLA membership.
      • Attend virtual business meetings.
      • Maintain minutes and business documents for unit or committee in their Google Shared Drive.
      • With the help of TLA Staff, manage unit’s annual budget, conference programming, in-person meetings, monthly webinars, TLA Engage community, etc.
      • Attend summer officer training (in-person) at TLA Officer Governance Training Workshop in Austin, TX.
      • Attend TLA Annual Conference
What are the available roles for each officer position button, white text on turquoise background

  • Chair (Chair-Elect, Chair, Past Chair) – 3-year term, point of contact for unit, approves budget
  • Secretary/Treasurer – 1 year term, takes minutes for meetings, helps with budget
  • Web Administrator – 1 year term, manages units web pages
  • Councilor – 3-year terms, representative of unit at Council meetings
  • Alternate Councilor – 3-year terms, representative of unit at Council meetings if Councilor is unavailable.
  • Other positions may vary per unit.
What are the available roles for each committee button, white text on purple background

  • TLA has 15 standing committees.
  • Each committee has a chair, and some have vice-chairs.
  • Committee member terms are staggered and are usually at least three years.

Who to contact for more information:

Why Volunteer

“I chose to serve because I’m passionate about school libraries and the value of school librarians.”
– Brooke K., Librarian

“I was interested in learning more about how TLA operated at an organizational level.”
– Laura T., Community Engagement Librarian

“To learn more about public libraries across the state, and how they are doing/working individually and how we can unite to make life a little better for all of us.”
– Rebecca A., MLS, Director

Latest News

Supporting Summer Reading at Libraries at H-E-B

TLA News

You can help support Texas libraries summer reading programs and other initiatives through donations made at H-E-B checkstands from June 3 – 30, 2026.

TLA Awards $326,350 in Summer Programming Grants

TLA News

TLA was the beneficiary of H-E-B’s Summer at the Library check-stand campaign. Thanks to donations of customers from across the state, a total of $326,350 was awarded to 104 libraries to support summer programming this year.