Hello, library friends!

I hope you have had a wonderful summer and have taken some time to rest and do things that bring you joy! This will be my last newsletter as I turn the reins over to someone new. I have so enjoyed my time serving librarians in Region 11 and wish you all the very best year! What you do matters, and I will be cheering you on.

Have a fabulous new school year!

Shawna

We are excited to introduce you to Beth Muirheid, who will be taking over the role of supporting Region 11 librarians and TREC members! Beth can be reached at bmuirheid@esc11.net beginning September 5, 2023.

From Beth:

After 26 years of serving students in Dallas, HEB, and Birdville ISD, I’m looking forward to supporting those who serve. My library passions include collaborating with content teachers to create a more meaningful learning experience, makerspace activities that spark wonder (and a possible career path), and always, a great story.

Let’s work together to utilize all of Region 11’s resources to their fullest potential to impact student achievement.

Please reach out for any reason — to request assistance, to answer your TREC questions, to invite me out to see the amazing work you do, and to recommend a great title.

I’m here for you!

Beth Muirheid, M.L.S.

TLA has created a webpage to house information regarding HB 900. This page will be updated as information becomes available.

On August 4, 2023, TSLAC approved submitting proposed Collection Development Standards to SBOE. These standards must be approved by SBOE before being finalized and are not in effect at this time.

Key Dates:

• June 13, 2023 — Signed by Governor Abbott
• September 1, 2023 — Effective date
• January 1, 2024 — TSLAC mandatory collection development standards, approved by SBOE, final
• April 1, 2024 — Vendors provide an initial list of materials they rated sexually explicit or sexually relevant to TEA. Materials rated as sexually explicit must be removed from school libraries.
• September 1, 2024 — Vendors provide an updated list of materials they have rated to TEA
• January 1, 2025 — School districts review vendor-rated sexually relevant material in their current collection and post a report on their website

Texas educators who have TexQuest Resources can participate in any of the TexQuest sessions regardless of which ESC is hosting the session. Check out the TexQuest Training Calendar to see all of the upcoming sessions.

September 14, 2023 • 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. — My District Just Signed Up for TexQuest...Now What?

October 12, 2023 • 9:00 a.m. - noon — ELAR TEKS and TexQuest Resources Make a Perfect Pair

November 7, 2023 • 9:00 a.m. - noon — Build Family Connections with TexQuest Digital Resources

Join us for a day of Book Creator workshops. There will be two sessions, along with time for questions and book creation!

Session 1 — Engaging Students through Book Creator: Innovative Approaches to Reading and Writing Instruction Discover how Book Creator can be utilized to captivate students' interest in reading. Learn how to create interactive e-books, incorporate multimedia elements such as audio and video, and engage students through interactive quizzes and activities. Explore ways to personalize reading experiences and provide differentiated instruction based on students' needs and interests.

Session 2 — Empowering Students: Strategies for Success Beyond STAAR Test Prep During this session, we will delve into a range of effective strategies and techniques that go beyond mere test preparation, focusing on empowering students to become confident and independent learners. Our goal is to nurture a growth mindset, foster critical thinking skills, and cultivate a passion for lifelong learning.

Breakfast and Lunch will be provided, and participants will receive a free six-month upgrade to Book Creator.

October 18, 2023 • 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Register to join us!

Save the date for our Fall Library Conference, which will be held on November 16, 2023, at ESC Region 11. The theme for the conference is Connections! and we are now accepting proposals for presentations.

Please consider submitting a proposal or two and encourage your friends to do the same. We are excited to Connect with everyone in November!

Session Proposal Form

Are you a solo librarian in your district? Would you like to connect with other solo librarians? If so, please complete this form! Christina Moore (Sanger ISD) and Linda Sanchez (Community ISD) are reviving the Solo Librarian PLN.

Don't forget to share the awesome things you are doing in the library and your community. Sharing is a great way to let your school community see how the library supports students and learning on your campus. Remember to tag #esc11librarians so we can all learn from and celebrate with each other. To grow your PLN, connect with other #ESC11Librarians on Twitter!

In addition to serving librarians in Region 11, our ESC also manages a state-wide consortium for Destiny Library and Resource Manager. Through a partnership with Follett, we host services for 151 districts and charters across the state. Benefits for our members include hosted services, ongoing training and support, access to an eBook catalog, and more.

Many of our Region 11 districts are already TREC members, but if your district/charter is not and you are interested in learning more about TREC, you can take a look at the TREC website if you have questions or would like a cost estimate of joining TREC, email sford@esc11.net.

Connect with us on social media to stay up-to-date on Region 11 library-related events and news!

Email: sford@esc11.net
Website: https://www.esc11.net/Library
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Phone: 817-740-3674
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESCRegion11LibraryServices/
Twitter: @ESC11Library

BM 8/9/23