Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Library Development Division:

An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1940-1993 (bulk 1975-1993)

Agency History

The Library Development Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission was created to expand public access to the resources of all libraries, to assist libraries in supplying quality information services, and to encourage Texans to utilize libraries. Libraries may receive training and technical assistance, loans of professional materials, and state accreditation. Grants to library systems support collection development, automation and networking, circulation of materials to users of other libraries, production of public information materials, cooperative reference services, and loans of films, books, and other media. The Library Development Division coordinates and supports information services among all types of libraries in the state: public, academic, special, and school. Other services provided directly by the Division include consulting, continuing education, circulation of library science materials, the production and distribution of publicity materials for library reading clubs, and developing and maintaining electronic library services.

In accordance with criteria established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Texas public libraries are annually accredited for membership in the Texas Library System. Public libraries must meet minimum requirements regarding expenditures, collection size, hours of service, staffing, and service policies. Persons seeking employment as county librarians must be certified by the State Library based upon requirements that vary according to the population of the county. To further assist libraries and their staffs, the Division helps to sponsor a variety of workshops, ranging from grant writing to storytelling, and members of regional public library System Advisory Councils attend conferences to acquaint them with the Texas Library System. Librarians, trustees, and other individuals may receive further assistance on all aspects of library development, programming and operations from several consultants employed by the Division.

The Library Development Division awards state and federal grants for a variety of services, representing approximately 93 percent of the operating budget for the Statewide Library Development program. In 1969, the Texas Legislature authorized the organization of library systems to improve library services and to make resources accessible to all residents of the area that the member libraries collectively serve. Thus, the State Library designated the public libraries in Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth, Garland, Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio as Major Resource Centers to provide services to libraries within a specific region. Each year these Resource Centers are awarded grants to provide a variety of services for member libraries, such as purchasing library materials and equipment, training staff, supporting automation and networking, offering consulting services, and loaning films and rotating and extension collections.

The Division also manages the interlibrary loan program, with centers in public libraries in Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio. The Library Science Collection provides current information on librarianship and library and information services while staff provide reference assistance and consultations to support the needs of librarians, library staff, trustees and other interested individuals. The Division's publications program includes directories and statistical reports of public and academic libraries, as well as guides, manuals, bibliographies on selected topics, and a bi-monthly newsletter. The Texas Reading Club offers an annual program for children and sends libraries free promotional materials, a manual suggesting activities and crafts, and books and audiovisuals appropriate for the year's theme. Separate handbooks help librarians and volunteers to organize, market, and manage a reading club.

Scope and Contents of the Records

Records of the Library Development Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission consist of correspondence, grant applications, memoranda, surveys, minutes, agenda, reports, organizational charts and tables, forms, drafts, lists of statistics, lists of procedures, a catalog, calendars, printed materials, clippings, publications, and several 5 1/4 inch floppy discs. Materials range in date from 1940 to 1993 (bulk 1975-1993). Administrative correspondence is incoming, outgoing, and internal, generally between the director of the library, division heads, and officials in other agencies, both state and federal. Subjects range from fire suppression systems, to federal grant programs, building security, to salary structures, employee leave, and various legislative bills. Some letters come from the Office of the Attorney General in response to requests from the State Library and other agencies for opinions on assorted legal matters. Specific subjects include employee pay rates and employment, the ability of the state library to make grants to local libraries, record storage, open records, appropriations, and the use of travel funds. Organizational charts depict the structure of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, particularly the Administrative Division. Other records include surveys completed by the Texas State Library upon request of several state and national organizations/institutions. Subjects include minority employees, smoking surveys, salary surveys, personnel surveys, reports on reports, amounts of storage spaced leased for non-current records, sources of funding, cost allocations, fees, and revenue. A few documents are concerned with the process of making automated systems calendar year-end conversions to complete yearly payroll, tax, and W-2 form information, while others contain comparative statistics on users, collections, funding, employees, cost allocations, and the information resources of local libraries in the Texas Panhandle and Big Country region. Finally, the materials document strategic plans and grant project evaluations of regional library systems. Subjects include various organizational, technical, and collection development issues, vendor contracts, library fees, video programming for children and adults, literacy, computers, and even bookmarks.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Records, Library Development Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 1999/105

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Library Development Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission on February 22, 1999.

Processing Information

Nancy Enneking, April 1999

Detailed Description of the Records