Tell legislators what this funding would mean for YOUR library. Studies show that students who go to schools that have strong school libraries perform better on tests and demonstrate higher student achievement. In 1999 the Texas Legislature designated 25 cents per pupil for school library materials. That funding has benefited students throughout the state-but more is needed. With about 4 million students in school today, here are some potential funding levels.
Public libraries reach people at all stages of their lives.
Most of the citizens in Texas are already out of school. Texas public libraries rank 45 th in the nation in the total number of books and library materials per capita and 46 th in the nation in state per capita support. A full discussion of TLA's legislative platform is available on the Government Affairs site. Previous issues of Texline are archived on the TLA website.