For Immediate Release
July 1, 2015
Contact:
Sara Ortiz
Communications & Marketing Specialist
sarao@txla.org
512-328-1518
Texas Library Association Helps Wimberley Village Library
Disaster Relief Funds
AUSTIN – The Texas Library Association is responding to severe storm and rain damage in the
Central Texas area by donating $2,000 in disaster relief funds to Wimberley Village Library in
Wimberley, TX.
There was extensive flooding in the City of Wimberley and along the banks of the Blanco River
including parts of San Marcos. Along with heartbreaking loss of life and property, thousands of
family photographs and documents were dispersed throughout the area. Immediately after the
flood waters receded, the Library became the donation center for recovered photographs and
documents.
A Facebook page was created to provide a communication channel to reunite these items with their
rightful owners. While some progress has been made, there are still thousands of photographs in
need of cleaning. To accomplish the preservation task, the library needs supplies, expertise, and
space.
Supplies have been donated by the Red Cross, the United Way, other relief agencies, and many
Austin-based archival repositories. The Katherine Ann Porter School has donated space in their
(now empty) facility. The Library is requesting funding for specialized supplies for conserving
photographs and documents such as soot sponges, microspatulas, brushes, archival photo album
pages, etc.; the library is also requesting funding to hire a conservator to train the community
volunteers in photo and document cleaning.
TLA’S DISASTER RELIEF COMMITTEE The committee is charged with responding to all types of
disasters that affect libraries in Texas, raising funds, assisting libraries in disaster preparedness,
and evaluating the effect of the grant award. Their goals are to increase the amount of the Disaster
Relief Endowment Fund, be prepared for statewide emergencies, raise awareness of the grants and
online resources, and remain alert for disasters affecting Texas libraries.
HOW YOU CAN HELP Donations are always welcome for the Texas Library Disaster Relief Fund.
Every year during the annual conference an original piece of artwork is raffled to benefit the fund,
created to assist Texas libraries that are impacted by disasters such as fires, floods, and storms.
People can help by donating to the Texas Library Disaster Relief Fund by visiting www.
txla.org/donate or calling 512-328-1518. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for,
respond to and help libraries recover from disasters big and small. This includes the recent severe
weather and any other disasters in the state.
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About the Texas Library Association
TLA is the largest state library association in the United States with over7,000 members who
work in public, school, academic, and special libraries and who support educational institutions.
TLA offers a wide range of services, including advocacy, continuing education, research, and
public relations. For more information, see www.txla.org or call 512-328-1518.