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As excited as we are about the new plan and new goals, it’s important to celebrate our successes, reflect on what we learned, and to have gratitude for the thousands of members who got TLA to this finish line as we approach the end of 2025.
Strategic Priority #1: Communicate the Value of Libraries
TLA strengthened our legislative presence, built relationships with allied organizations and legislators on both sides of the aisle and capacity for future legislative sessions. It was the most challenging time in our association’s recent history with policy efforts. Maintaining balance with both members and external observers across our very large state took hard work from our legislative committee, hundreds of TLA members who spoke on behalf of thousands of their colleagues who couldn’t and countless hours at the Capitol by our staff and volunteers working behind the scenes.
Strategic Priority #2: Lead a Learning Culture
TLA expanded our professional development offerings digitally, as well as in-person to a much wider audience across the state than ever before. New grant funding allowed us to take important programming to parts of the state not on the IH-35 corridor, as well as enhancements to scholarships and stipends to attend the Annual Conference and support for collection development grants. Additionally, we brought on key technology resources that helped our staff better support our members and gave our members dozens of resources to help both streamline your work in TLA and grow your professional journey as a library worker.
Strategic Priority #3: Cultivate a Thriving Organization
Finally, TLA laid the groundwork for moving our governance model into the next chapter. We redesigned our membership dues model to be clear, simple and make membership more accessible for small and rural library workers while still maintaining this vital piece of TLA’s financial structure. At the same time, we have reflected on our volunteer opportunities with the board and key leadership. Through this process, we created a new role on the TLA staff focused exclusively on volunteer success and are continuing to improve our training, education, and support so that volunteers can spend their time contributing, not navigating TLA’s mechanics.
When I look back at these significant accomplishments over such a brief time, I am grateful to our past leaders who helped develop these strategic priorities and those who helped guide us through the last 3 years. TLA is stronger when we collaborate, take time to reflect, and move forward when opportunities come to us.
Our staff and board are excited to move forward with each of you in what is on the horizon for the library profession in Texas. The best strategic plans are ones that are flexible, monitored regularly, and used as guideposts for our work. Our team is committed to that approach and welcomes insights from all members into how we’re doing for you.
Shirley Robinson Texas Library Association Executive Director
Every year in the fall, each of TLA’s 10 Districts holds a day-long meeting for local members, which is a fantastic opportunity for networking and learning.
