Welcome to the Friends of the Libraries & Archives of Texas

Friends of Libraries and Archives of Texas Board Meeting

Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas Library Association
3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401
Austin, Texas 78746

Welcome

In attendance: Darryl Tocker, Sue Bilich, JoAnne M. Moore, Dianna Dorman, Gretchen McCord Hoffman, Cyndi Hughes, Pat Smith, Sandy Pickett, Peggy Rudd, Derick Hackett, Tracy Lash, Charlotte McCann. Joining via conference call: Carol Roark, Marvin Rich, Lori Brix.

Call to Order

Darryl Tocker, President called the meeting to order at 1:46 p.m. He welcomed new board member Cyndi Hughes, new TSLAC Communications Officer Derick Hackett, and complimented Derick and Lori Brix on the new look of the Friends Forecast.

Reading and approval of minutes from June 20, 2008, board meeting

The minutes were approved as written and sent to the Minute Book. Peggy Rudd suggested placing the minutes on the Friends Website. All agreed this was an excellent idea. Darryl reminded everyone of the new Friends domain name, texaslibraryfriends.org.

Treasurer’s Report

Darryl gave the treasurer’s report for Mickey Schott, who was absent.
Darryl thanked Sandy Pickett for her generous gift to the Capital Campaign in honor of Dianna Dorman. Sandy’s gift is earmarked for the Talking Book Program.

Charlotte McCann updated the board on fundraising activities and donor development. We expect to hear from the Summerlee Foundation this month and the Brown Foundation in November. Charlotte is also working on other grant applications to other foundations.

While the Friends is awaiting word from Summerlee and from the Brown Foundation, Charlotte is working on applying to other foundations. Applications to the Houston Endowment and the Alkek Foundation are in the works.

The board discussed outreach to prospective corporate donors.

Darryl noted that he and Peggy Rudd had directed that their honoraria from the Priddy Foundation be given to the Friends’ Capital Campaign.

Texas State Library Report

Peggy Rudd provided an update on the Lorenzo de Zavala renovation. She reported on plans to work with the Legislature for emergency and supplemental funding to cover costs not covered in the existing appropriation, should funds be needed before grants and contributions are raised.

In its budget request for the upcoming biennium, TSLAC has requested funding for an expansion. The Texas Facilities Commission has hired an archivist to assess space needs, and to identify whether to build onsite or build at the State Records Center or elsewhere.

TSLAC has also included an Exceptional Item request to redesign the web site, which includes the Friends site.

TSLAC will celebrate its Centennial March 19, 2009. David Gracy’s history of the Texas State Library — whose research was funded with a Friends’ grant to the Summerlee Foundation, and which will be published by UT Press in fall 2009 — spans the years from its inception in 1909 to 1961. Gail Bialys of the Center for the Book in Dallas has offered to apply to make the de Zavala building a Literary Landmark. Carol Roark offered to facilitate, working with Charlotte McCann.

Membership Report

After the first of the year, Darryl and Charlotte will develop and send a letter to encourage renewal of memberships.

Old Business:

Darryl noted improvements to the web site.

New Business:

The Friends’ annual meeting and program will take place on April 1, 2009, at 10:15 am, at the TLA Annual Conference in Houston. David Gracy, xxx, and xxx will reprise their presentation, presented originally at the 2008 Texas State Historical Association meeting, on the history of the Texas State Library.

Gretchen Hoffman described the LIFTA (Library Friends, Trustees and Advocates) program and luncheon, which follows at 12:00 PM. LIFTA has been working with Benevon, which will present a training session on sustainable fundraising.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:55 pm.

Respectfully submitted –

Susan Smith Dorsey, Secretary