About

The Texas Council of Academic Libraries (TCAL) exists to advance the interests of independent and state supported college and university libraries in Texas, and to promote cooperation, communication and resource sharing among its members.

TCAL hosts an Annual Conference each fall, usually in Austin. The Texas Library Association provides administrative and management support to the organization.

TCAL Organizational Change

Chair David Baca, TLA staff and members of the executive board are hosting three Information Sessions to give members an opportunity to ask questions and get more information about the proposed changes.

• Tuesday, August 2 | 2 – 3pm | Join the meeting
• Monday, August 8 | 10 – 11am | Join the meeting
• Wednesday, August 17 | 10 – 11am | Join the meeting

Background

For many years, TCAL has contracted with the Texas Library Association (TLA) for management services including accounting, event planning and support, website, listservs, etc. At the start of that agreement, TCAL membership and event registration was managed outside of TLA’s database systems using platforms such as EventBrite, Google etc. A couple of years ago, TLA was able to move TCAL membership and event registration into their custom Access membership and events database systems. Those Access systems are antiquated, and TLA is moving to a new, robust, web-based Association Management System (AMS) this fall. The AMS will be designed for TLA’s individual membership model (individuals, not institutions join the organization.) TCAL has an opportunity to take advantage of this robust management system and associated benefits. To do so, TCAL must address its current organizational structure.

Working with TLA staff, the TCAL executive board has identified three options:

1. Maintain current arrangement. TCAL remains a separate organization. All membership data, financials, event registration and logistics will reside outside of the TLA AMS in platforms such as Eventbrite, Google, Excel.
2. TCAL remains a separate organization. Membership structure changed from institutional to individual. This will allow TCAL to be managed within the TLA AMS. The three TCAL divisions will not exist in this format, but other structures (like committees) could be created to serve those interest groups.
3. TCAL becomes a TLA Round Table. TCAL members join TLA as individuals and select the TCAL round table as part of their membership. Round tables have an officer structure like TCAL’s and have representation and voting rights on the TLA Council. A TCAL Round Table will still have the option to hold an annual conference. This option would require that TCAL be dissolved in its current form. Then a petition to form the TCAL Round Table in TLA would need to be signed by at least 60 members. That petition would go to the TLA Council in October for approval.

Each of these options allows TCAL to continue to hold our annual conference and elect officers. More information about each of these options can be found here. 

A survey was sent to all TCAL members (closed July 29) to solicit feedback and initial thoughts on the three options. The final recommendation will be presented to the membership for vote on the election ballot, which will also include candidates for open board positions. The electronic Election Ballot will be sent to members August 22 and results will be shared on Tuesday, September 20 at the business meeting at the TCAL Annual Conference.

The TCAL membership year is January 1 – December 31.

Ready to join TCAL or renew your TCAL membership? Here’s our guide on how to renew/join online.

Renew your membership with a check by sending in the downloadable membership form.

Divisions

Texas Council of State University Libraries (TCSUL): advancing the interests of state supported university libraries in Texas. Membership consists of the head librarians of state supported universities and head librarians of separately operated special libraries affiliated with state supported universities.

Texas Council of Community/Junior College Libraries (TCCJCL): advancing the interests of state supported community/junior college libraries in Texas. Membership includes the head librarian/director/dean of state supported community/junior colleges.

Texas Independent College and University Libraries (TICUL): advancing the interests of the independent college and university libraries and to promote cooperation, communication and resource sharing among its members. Membership includes the head librarian/director/dean of Texas independent college and university libraries.

Officers

David Baca, Texas A&M University – Galveston, Chair
Jesús Campos, South Texas College, Past Chair
Dean Hendrix, University of Texas San Antonio , Secretary-Treasurer
Elizabeth Norman, Hardin-Simmons University, Member-at-Large TICUL
Rebecca McKay Johnson, UT Tyler, Member-at-Large TSCUL
Lee Leblanc, San Antonio College, Member-at-Large TCCJCL