The Texas State Library & Archives Commission (TSLAC) recently awarded funding to the Arlington Public Library under three grant programs: Impact, Library Cooperation, and Texas Reads. TSLAC awards competitive grants annually, as funding allows. For the 2015 fiscal year, which runs from September 1, 2014, to August 31, 2015, TSLAC has awarded approximately $1.6 million in competitive grants state-wide.

Projects funded by the Impact and Library Cooperation programs were made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. "TSLAC is proud to see funds from our federal grants put to use to demonstrate the power of local libraries to bring innovative services to communities across the state of Texas," says TSLAC Director and Librarian Mark Smith.

• The Impact grant program provides seed funds in three focus areas: workforce development and digital literacy; family and early childhood literacy; and electronic content access and delivery. 2015 marks the third year of implementation for the program and the Arlington Public Library is one of 23 libraries to be awarded an Impact grant this year. With a $10,000 grant, the Library will offer a Career Advancement Program to patrons who will explore career opportunities at their own pace through a series of classes offered in house and on the TechLiNK mobile computer lab and they will refine their existing skills to enhance their employability and help them in the workplace.


• The Library Cooperation program supports projects that promote cooperative services for learning and access to information. With a $45,750 grant, the Arlington Public Library will partner with the Grand Prairie, Kennedale, and Mansfield public libraries to establish a joint digital programming calendar and a shared Summer Reading Club registration and tracking system.

The Texas Reads program, funded from specialty license plate revenue, supports projects that promote reading and literacy within local communities. TSLAC is funding 10 Texas Reads grants this year, with awards ranging from $1,630 to $3,000. With a $2,860 grant, the Arlington Public Library will establish Seniors to Seniors and match senior high school students with senior citizens in a group setting. The Library will provide BiFolkal kits to engage "senior" pairs in reading, writing, storytelling, poetry, and music.

Cary Siegfried, Director of Libraries, said, "This funding enables the Arlington Public Library to impact lives within our community by providing opportunities for people to develop marketable skills, to find the information they are looking for, and to connect with others through programming."