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Whether working with a healthy budget or navigating severe funding limitations, librarians across Texas are finding creative ways to maximize resources, build partnerships, and continue creating meaningful experiences for students. That was the focus of a recent Texas Library Association Libraries Transform Texas podcast conversation inspired by the session “Beyond the Book Fair: Strategies to Stretch Your Library Budget.”
The discussion featured host Carrie Bresnehen and librarians Katie Adams, Sara Ruttan and Heather Stephens from Austin ISD and Round Rock ISD sharing real-world ideas that go far beyond traditional fundraising.
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One recurring theme throughout the conversation was the importance of making the library visible within the school and surrounding community.
Katie Adams, library assistant at Harrington Elementary in Round Rock ISD, shared how community outreach through social media helped support major initiatives while working at a Title I campus in Austin ISD. Donations from families and community members helped fund a free book fair and even provided every student with a small reading buddy plush toy.
The key takeaway? Many people want to support public school libraries. Sometimes they just need to be asked.
Rather than relying solely on traditional library fundraisers, librarians discussed the value of identifying what already matters to the campus community and building fundraising efforts around it.
At one campus, T-shirt culture became an opportunity to raise money for the library through a custom shirt campaign marketed to families, staff, and extended community members. Another librarian is planning coffee-themed fundraising efforts after recognizing how central coffee culture is among staff members.
The approach is simple: meet people where they already are.
Partnerships can dramatically expand what libraries are able to offer students.
One standout example was a “sister library” partnership between two campuses in Austin ISD with very different budget realities. Over several years, the librarians collaborated on shared events, donation drives, and bookstore fundraisers. Families from both campuses participated in a week-long bookstore spirit event, with proceeds split evenly between the schools.
The partnership also created opportunities to share book donations, support summer reading giveaways, and strengthen relationships between the two school communities.
Perhaps most importantly, the librarians emphasized that collaboration makes the work more enjoyable and less isolating.
Some of the most successful library programs discussed during the episode cost almost nothing to implement.
One librarian wrapped mystery-themed chapter books in butcher paper and added short teaser descriptions written on index cards. Students could not unwrap the books until leaving the library. The “mystery books” became so popular they rarely stayed on shelves for long.
Other ideas included:
The conversation reinforced that creativity often matters more than budget size.
Another practical piece of advice centered on asking for help and being specific about needs.
Whether reaching out to fellow librarians, businesses, community groups, or families, the speakers emphasized the importance of clearly communicating priorities. Instead of broadly saying the library needs funding, librarians should identify concrete needs or projects that partners can easily support.
That clarity makes it easier for others to step in and contribute.
The librarians also highlighted organizations offering free educational programming and resources.
One example was the Texas Wildlife Association, which provides TEKS-aligned presentations, discovery trunks, magazines, and virtual field trips at no cost to schools. Programs like these can add engaging experiences to library programming without increasing spending.
The broader message throughout the episode was encouraging: even in difficult budget environments, librarians continue finding innovative ways to create vibrant, student-centered spaces.
Sometimes all it takes is an index card, a creative idea, and a willingness to ask for support.
To hear more stories and ideas from libraries across Texas, listen to the Libraries Transform Texas podcast and browse past episodes in your favorite podcast app.
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