Thousands of librarians and other library professionals from across the Lone Star State are headed to Dallas next week to connect with their colleagues, hear about new resources, and gather knowledge that will transform their communities.

Organization: Texas Library Association

Conference: 2018 Conference

Venue: Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center

City: Dallas

Following preconference workshops on Tuesday, TLA 2018 begins on Wednesday morning with a general session featuring travel writer and television personality Rick Steves. He’ll discuss how travel, whether overseas or through libraries, can be truly transformative and provide the greatest souvenir—a broader perspective. Also on the agenda:

Lab work. TLA’s Innovation Lab features an array of STEAM-focused events, including education programs, demonstrations, robotics competitions, and a library maker space prototype. Librarians from across the state will share their expertise in library innovation and discuss their own successful program ideas, including creating art out of damaged books.

Teachers welcome. During TeacherDay@TLA, classroom teachers will learn more about the value of teacher-librarian collaboration through specially designed activities. The goal is for these teachers to return to their districts as library advocates and collaborators.

All hands in. Nearly 30 Hands-On Lab sessions will allow attendees to learn and get practice in a variety of tools and techniques. Options range from the more technical—Tinkering with 3D Design in Tinkercad—to the more basic—Book Repair and Mending.

For more details, head to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter (#txla18).

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