2006 News Releases
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October 31, 2006
The State of Texas Celebrates the Texas Legation Records, Nov. 3, 1:00
p.m.
A rare piece of Texas history lives through fire, flood, and neglect,
and returns “home” after 161 years
Austin – On Friday, Nov. 3, 2006, the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission will celebrate a collection of Texas historical documents
that have been on a 161-year adventure, from the hands of Sam Houston
in 1845 to the Texas State Archives in 2006. The Texas State Library and
Archives Commission will unveil the restored Texas Legation Records at
a press conference for the first time publicly, and recognize the efforts
of many organizations and individuals that have allowed their homecoming,
including Texas Christian University and the Texas State Historical Association.
The Texas Legation Records are a collection of some 250 documents created
and received by the officials who maintained the official Texas Legation
at Washington, D. C., from Dec. 1836 until Dec. 1845, when Texas was annexed
into the United States. The records comprising the collection cover primarily
the years 1836 to 1839 and consist mainly of the dispatches that passed
between the Texan Government and its commissioners and chargés
d’affaires at Washington, and of the notes exchanged by that Government
and the United States chargés in Texas.
According to Texas State Archivist Mr. Chris LaPlante, many of the original
documents in the collection have never been seen by scholars or the general
public.
In March, the Texas State Historical Association auctioned the right
of a donor to select a state-approved institution to exhibit the collection
for five years, in accordance with the State’s rules for the loan
and exhibition of state archives. The collection has been conserved through
the efforts of private donors and the Texas State Library and Archives
Commission. The documents will be placed at Texas Christian University
(TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas, for five years, beginning this winter. Following
the end of their loan to TCU, the Legation Records will return to the
Commission for permanent retention in the State Archives.
Learn more about the Texas Legation
Records
Contact the Public
Information Office
512-463-5514
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March 20, 2006
10² Talking Book Club Keeping Centenarians Across the Country Reading
Ceremony at the Texas State Capitol will Honor Centenarians
AUSTIN -Seventeen Texas centenarians will become the latest inductees
in the 10² Talking Book Club today as the National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress,
the Texas Talking Book Program and Texas State Library and Archives Commission
officially launch the Texas chapter of the national program on Wednesday,
March 22, at 2:00 p.m., in the Texas State Capitol.
The Club recognizes the accomplishments of Talking Book readers 100 years
of age and older and affords them special privileges such as priority
on high-demand reading materials like bestsellers. The Talking Book Program
provides books and magazines on audio to those who can't read a standard
printed page. More than 20,000 Texans currently benefit from this state
program.
"The 10² Talking Book Club represents the true spirit of the Talking
Book reading program. Our more than 1,600 Talking Book centenarians have
continued to actively read in every stage of their lives, regardless of
blindness or physical handicaps," said Frank Kurt Cylke, director of NLS.
"It's our hope that their love of reading will encourage others who are
eligible to join their local or state program."
The 10² Talking Book Club Honorees will be inducted Wednesday, March
22, at 2:00 p.m. The ceremony celebrates the 75th Anniversary of both
the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
of the Library of Congress and the Texas Talking Book Program and will
honor the 17 centenarians to be inducted into the Club. (Note: Due to
health concerns, we can not guarantee attendance of the centenarians at
the induction.)
According to Library of Congress statistics, nearly all states have eligible
centenarians for the 10² Talking Book Club. Interested parties may visit
the NLS website, www.loc.gov/nls,
and browse the 10² Talking Book Club page for additional information,
including how to locate a state or local participating library.
NLS provides a free national reading service to people who can no longer
read the standard print of a newspaper or even the pages of a large-print
book. The program loans members a wide selection of recorded books and
magazines, Braille books and magazines, and music scores in Braille and
large print.bAnyone who is a citizen of the United States and cannot read
or use standard print materials because of a visual or physical handicap
may qualify to use Talking Books. Specific information on who qualifies
and how to enroll in the free program can be found at www.loc.gov/nls
or by dialing 1-800-424-9100.
View the official Texas
State Library and Archives Commission resolution
Learn more
about the Talking Book Program
Contact the Public
Information Office
512-463-5514
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March 3, 2006
Sally Reynolds appointed to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Austin - The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is pleased to
announce Rockport resident Sally Reynolds' appointment to its governing
board. Governor Rick Perry has appointed Ms. Reynolds to a six-year term
that expires Sept. 28, 2011. Reynolds replaces Chris A. Brisack of Houston,
whose term has expired.
State Librarian Peggy D. Rudd noted, "Ms. Reynolds brings a fresh perspective
and a unique set of skills and experiences to our commission. Her knowledge
of state government has helped her to quickly become acclimated to the
mission and goals of the state library."
Ms. Reynolds' library career with the Texas Legislative Reference Library
spans 29 years. She retired in 1998, having served as director of the
library for nearly 13 years. During her tenure as director, in addition
to overseeing the daily operations of the library and conducting legislative
research, she developed a pioneer data imaging/retrieval program for legislative
bill and research clippings files. She was also active in the Texas Library
Association and the State Agency Libraries of Texas, and served on the
executive committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Ms. Reynolds is active within her South Texas community, and currently
serves as vice president of the board of trustees of the Texas Maritime
Museum and is a member of the Friends of the Fulton Mansion. She's been
a dedicated volunteer for Meals on Wheels for more than a decade.
"I'm excited about being reunited with the library profession," says
Reynolds. "Libraries are facing many of the same challenges they were
facing before I retired, as well as some new ones. I hope to learn as
much as possible about their needs and use my service as commissioner
to help address them."
The commission is a seven-member body appointed by the Governor to lead
the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Contact the Public
Information Office
512-463-5514
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