Latest news with #publiclibrary
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Branch stepping down as Kingsville Library director
KINGSVILLE — Mariana Branch is stepping down from her position as director of the Kingsville Public Library, as of Friday, after 16 years in the position. The library will host a party celebrating Branch's time as director from 4-6 p.m. Thursday. Branch said she will miss everyone she worked with. '[I am grateful] to the board of trustees for their support over the years, the wonderful staff here, community members that we've worked with,' she said. She became involved with the library through joining the Friends of the Kingsville Public Library and the Kingsville community, she said. 'They would call me today an accidental librarian,' she said. 'This is a term that is known in the library world, because there's many of us out there.' Branch became director June 1, 2009, she said. 'I came in with a plan of how I felt the library could grow in services to the community, and plans for the future, and apparently they must've liked it, because they hired me,' she said. The library has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding under her tenure, Branch said. 'I felt it was a really important way to supplement our budget, and not have to go back to the taxpayers for additional levy funds,' she said. 'Without those grants, a lot of our programs would not be possible.' One of the most important grants in Branch's tenure was one that paid for a digital literacy trainer to be on staff, she said. 'When I calculate these numbers, it's hard for me to grasp them,' she said. Branch loved presenting and preserving Kingsville history, she said. 'That's apparent to anyone who's walked in here,' she said. One of Branch's favorite projects is the library's education and exploration garden, she said. 'It integrates so many different educational aspects,' she said. 'It's open all the time. So, through [the COVID-19 pandemic], this was important that we had an accessible space. It provides a safe space for families to come, for children to play.' The library expanded reading services, she said. 'We wanted to offer more to the adult community,' she said. 'That also created more of a summer reading program for adults, which last year we had a record number of people participate. It was over 100 adults, who actually signed up.' Branch started outdoor movie nights at the library early in her tenure, she said. 'No one else was doing that in our county,' she said. 'There was special licensing required for that, so we figured that out, we got our licensing, we used the side of a white tent as our movie screen, and we put it on the townships square pavilion.' Branch is optimistic about the future of the library in Kingsville, and libraries across the state, despite challenges coming from the government and to funding, she said. 'The community and library professionals are all out there advocating for us, and libraries will always exist,' she said.
Wall Street Journal
30-05-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
No More Library Police in Texas
If a public library culls children's books that have drawn complaints—such as 'Larry the Farting Leprechaun' and 'Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen'—do local fans of Larry and Jazz have a First Amendment case? In a decision last summer, a panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals welcomed such lawsuits, with two judges volunteering themselves for the job of library police. Good news: The entire Fifth Circuit, sitting en banc, reversed that decision last week. Ten of 17 judges held that a public library's removal of books from circulation doesn't implicate its patrons' 'right to receive information.'
Fast Company
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
How libraries are becoming launchpads for music careers
In an era dominated by artificial intelligence and smartphones, one of the most overlooked engines of economic growth sits quietly at the heart of every neighborhood: the public library. Gone are the days when libraries were sanctuaries reserved for only reading and research. Today, they are being reimagined as dynamic hubs for workforce development, creative sector support, and cultural exchange. Across the country, these reservoirs of knowledge are evolving into digital and physical beacons of community resilience. Local access, global reach: A case study in artist empowerment In Huntsville, where I serve as the city's first music officer, we've partnered with our public library system to develop a multifunctional creative hub—with music at its core. A primary pillar of our collaboration is Blast Music, a digital streaming platform designed to showcase local talent. It's a model other cities can and should replicate. Through the Blast program, artists are paid, promoted, and added to a curated library collection—offering not only exposure, but bona fide industry credentials. Over 100 local artists are currently featured on the platform, and we will welcome up to 50 additional artists into the program annually. The ripple effect of Blast is real. The free service empowers local listeners to discover homegrown talent while giving musicians tools to grow their fan base and attract industry attention. Perhaps most importantly, Blast provides emerging artists with resume-worthy recognition—essential for building sustainable careers in a tough industry. But Blast isn't just about digital reach—it's embedded in Huntsville's cultural DNA. From artist showcases like the Ladies of Blast event at the Orion Amphitheater, to community events like Hear to Be Seen (a portrait exhibition of Blast musicians), to stages designated exclusively for Blast artist performances at Camp to Amp, PorchFest, and more, Blast is bringing music into public spaces and cultivating civic pride. That's the kind of community infrastructure that libraries are uniquely equipped to deliver. There's no such thing as too much visibility, and even artists with international acclaim see value in the platform. Huntsville native Kim Tibbs, a vocalist, songwriter, Alabama Music Hall of Fame honoree and UK chart-topper, submitted her album The Science of Completion Volume I to Blast—not only for more exposure, but to mentor and support the next generation of artists in her hometown. Libraries as talent incubators Huntsville is part of a broader national trend. In cities like Chicago, Nashville, and Austin, libraries are integrating creative labs, media production studios, and music education into their core services—functioning as public-sector incubators for the creative economy. As technology continues to reshape traditional jobs, libraries are well-positioned to bridge skill gaps and fuel the rise of creative economies, including the vital but often overlooked non-performance roles in the music industry. Huntsville is doubling down on this approach. We're investing millions into programs that bring interactive music technology workshops to teens at the local library—focusing on hands-on training in production, recording, and audio engineering. With professional equipment, studio spaces, and expert instruction, we're preparing the next generation for careers both onstage and behind the scenes. Local industry is stepping up too. Hear Technologies, a global leader in sound and AV production, has been designing cutting-edge audio devices for years. They're now part of a dynamic team collaborating with city leaders to help develop the library's music maker space, nurture new talent and accelerate our region's creative growth. This matters now, more than ever Libraries have always been entry points for education, employment, and exploration. But today, they're more than just information access points—they are gateways to opportunity and launchpads for industries that define the future. By utilizing public space and collaborating with local talent, libraries can become platforms for economic mobility and cultural innovation. This investment isn't a feel-good gesture. It's a smart, strategic move for any city building a future that works—for everyone. The playlist is simple: Invest in creative ecosystems, embed them in trusted community institutions like public libraries, and treat music as critical infrastructure.
