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Gilbert discusses the Texas Collection Analysis Initiative (TXCAI), launched by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) in August 2024 in partnership with TeachingBooks, which provides free statewide tools to help Texas educators manage and document classroom collections. This supports compliance with House Bill 900, which requires school districts to implement collection development policies for all library materials, including those in classrooms. Through TXCAI, educators can create, document, and share book lists, promoting transparency and collaboration. Over one million items have been logged, and tools have been updated based on educator feedback. Features include genre tracking, grade levels, and book resumes, helping improve collection diversity and quality. District administrators can now generate reports of all classroom collections, and educators receive ongoing support and training via webinars and resources. TXCAI not only aids compliance but also encourages a culture of reading across schools.
IN AUGUST OF 2024, THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION (TSLAC) launched the Texas Collection Analysis Initiative (TXCAI), a new set of tools and services developed in partnership with TeachingBooks. This initiative gives free statewide access to all Texas educators, intended to support them as they identify materials in their classroom collections in compliance with the School Library Program Collection Development Standards (13 Texas Admin. Code §4.2).
As required by House Bill (HB) 900, 88th Leg., R.S. (2023), TSLAC adopted mandatory collection development standards for school libraries in January 2024. Each Texas public school district board or governing body must approve and institute a collection development policy that describes the processes and standards by which the district acquires, maintains, and withdraws materials as outlined in the standards. HB goo further specified that a school library collection development policy is required for all library material available for use or display, including material contained in school libraries, classroom libraries, and online catalogs. Additional information about the standards, including FAQs and guidance for districts, is available on the TSLAC website.
Using the tools on TeachingBooks, educators can efficiently create lists of their classroom titles with a variety of import options. These title lists can be easily shared as a spreadsheet or webpage link with administrators, parents and guardians, and any others as determined by the district. Collections can be documented in a consistent format, with districts able to decide which sharing method best meets their local and community needs. Sharing classroom collection lists with other teachers, as well as administrators, parents, and guardians, can inspire collaboration, as educators learn about other collections in their buildings and district, expanding a communitys reading culture.
These tools are freely available on TeachingBooks, to all Texas educators who register for the initiative at TeachingBooks.net/ TexasRegistration.
As of May 2025, the initiative has registered users in all 20 ESC regions across Texas. Since its launch, TeachingBooks and TSLAC have incorporated feedback from Texas educators and made significant enhancements to the tools and support offerings. The most recent of these is the ability for a designated district administrator to generate a report of all classroom collections documented in their district. Available for download as a spreadsheet, this report includes a summary of all lists, as well as individual title information. Beyond these administrative reports, classroom collection lists on TeachingBooks are only visible to the person who created them until a link or spreadsheet is shared.
"Since the initiative's introduction last summer, Texas educators have logged more than one million items in their classroom collections," said Jeremy Selvidge, TSLACss statewide resource sharing manager. "We especially appreciate the feedback these teachers and librarians have shared to help TeachingBooks and TSLAC improve these tools, making it easier for districts to effectively and efficiently meet statewide standards and manage local collections."
Classroom collections offer an invaluable opportunity for young readers to encounter books that will spark their interest, encouraging independent reading and providing space for students to become stronger - and lifelong - readers. In addition to features that help districts to meet the documentation requirements in state standards, the TXCAI gives school librarians and teachers access to book resumes for the titles in their collections that appear on TeachingBooks. They can also view collection data including genre, recency, and grade ranges, as well as other resources to support book selection decisions and determine the strengths and areas for growth in a classroom collection.
Included in the initiative is technical support and training from TeachingBooks. Users can access a tutorial video, a step-by-step handbook, and other support materials. Webinars demonstrating the tool and highlighting new features are offered regularly and information about upcoming trainings can be found at TeachingBooks.net/ TXCAITraining. Beyond individual assistance for users creating lists, supportis available for rolling out the initiative in your district. Reach out to [email protected] at any time with questions, requests, and feedback.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information they need to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. For more information about TSLAC services to school districts, contact [email protected] or visit www.tsl.texas.gov.
Susannah Gilbert, MLIS, is the implementation lead of the Texas Collection Analysis Initiative and is a Project Coordinator at TeachingBooks, an OverDrive company.
Copyright Texas Library Association 2025