LIBRARY OF TEXAS:

How it categorizes subjects
How to use it
How libraries are chosen as searchable resources in the default search screen
How to add your library
The InterLibrary Loan process
Contact Information
Widgets or Search Forms

The Library of Texas is here! The Library of Texas at LibraryofTexas.org is a federated searching service offered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to allow users of TexShare member libraries to easily discover and retrieve desired information from multiple library catalogs, databases, and other knowledge collections without having to use each individual library's interface. At present, the Library of Texas searches through the catalogs of over 100 public libraries, over 60 academic libraries along with over 40 online databases.

The Library of Texas provides a default group of nearby libraries and general online databases. Users have the option to create and save their own groups of favorite resources for searching. Many search results from the TexShare databases will include the full text from the original article, satisfying the information needs of the user right away.

For materials that are not immediately available online, search results will include links to online bookstores and an InterLibrary Loan request form so that the user can obtain the desired information.

Using the Library of Texas

Visit the Library of Texas at LibraryofTexas.org (one word). If your library Internet addresses are on file with the State Library you can immediately connect to this URL and begin searching. If not, there are other ways to begin connecting.

Login with your TexShare login ID and password. If your computer accepts "cookies" it will remember your ID so that next time you visit you will not need to log in again. Your library users may also begin using this service from home, work, or any other Internet location using your TexShare login ID and password. A customizable template for printing this information on bookmarks is available at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/news/presspass/texshare/lot_custombookmarkcolor.doc or
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/news/presspass/texshare/lot_custombookmarkbw.doc
Add the LibraryofTexas.org link to your list of resources if your library runs a proxy server. The proxy server allows remotely logged in users to reach your library's IP-authenticated resources.
We encourage all TexShare libraries to place a link to the Library of Texas from your current Web site. The following code is provided for you to use as that link:
"<a href=http://LibraryofTexas.org><img src=http://libraryoftexas.org/gfx/button.gif alt=Library of Texas></a>".
If you provide a proxy server to authenticate your users then you can place a "widget" or search form directly on your Web site. See our widgets page for several examples of how to do this using only HTML code.

How Libraries are Chosen as Searchable Resources

The libraries that are included in your default searching group include the five public libraries and the five academic libraries that are closest to your home library. Additional online databases with broad general coverage are also included in this search. If you want to select different libraries or databases for searching, try the "Pick collections to search" tab.

Adding Your Library

At this point in time we are ready to add any willing TexShare library to the Library of Texas service. The best way to get your library listed is to have your staff member who handles library automation e-mail the following information to the TSLAC Network Services Librarian, Kevin Marsh (KMarsh@tsl.state.tx.us). If you are unsure about whether your system includes a Z39.50 server please contact your library automation vendor.

Requirements:

1. Your automated library system must include a Z39.50 server that is running, compliant with the Bath profile, and accessible through the Internet from the State Library. You must inform TSLAC staff of the host name, port number, and database name for your Z39.50 server.

2. You must give the State Library permission to list your collection in the Library of Texas interface. You may also want to give the State Library permission to share your MARC records with other libraries. A form for this purpose is available here. It must be signed and mailed or faxed to TSLAC before your collection can be added.

3. If you provide a URL for a 75 x75 pixel image of your logo on your web server, we will be glad to display the logo on every Library of Texas page for users of your library. If you will provide the URLs for your library home page, your Web catalog and your virtual reference service we will include those appropriately as well.

4. If you subscribe to additional databases beyond the TexShare core subscriptions, send us a list of them and we will add as many as possible to the Library of Texas just for your users.

InterLibrary Loan

When a Library of Texas user submits an ILL request, a message is sent by e-mail to that user’s home library. The message contains a complete citation for the item that has been requested along with some explanatory text. Please consider this request for an interlibrary loan item just as you would any other ILL request. You may want to validate this request by determining if it is from a valid patron with borrowing privileges and confirming that the requested item is not locally available. After validating this request please fill it using your usual ILL procedure. Public libraries may wish to refer these requests to their TexNet center after validation. To make this easier we have configured these messages so that using the "reply" feature of your e-mail software will send them directly to your TexNet center.

Texas Libraries: send e-mail to databases@tsl.state.tx.us with any questions or comments.
The Library of Texas is a component of the TexShare consortium. View the Library of Texas TexShare page for working group contact information.