Professional Development - Texas Library Association (TLA) Travel Stipend Grant

Professional Development - Texas Library Association (TLA) Travel Stipend Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Tocker Foundation
Last Updated: June 28, 2025

Summary

The Tocker Foundation, established in 1964, focuses on enhancing the educational opportunities for rural librarians in Texas. Through the Texas Library Association (TLA) Travel Stipend, the foundation supports library staff from communities with populations of 12,000 or less to attend the TLA's annual conference. This initiative allows librarians to gain valuable insights, network with peers, and enrich their professional development, ultimately benefiting their local communities.

Overview

The Tocker Foundation The Tocker Foundation was created in 1964 to implement the philanthropic interests of Phillip and Olive Tocker. Phillip Tocker was a practicing attorney, but changed careers in his later years when he purchased the Waco outdoor advertising plant and later expanded to own outdoor advertising plants throughout the United States. His vocational career culminated to the position of President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. After retiring to Austin Texas in 1973, Phillip and Olive Tocker actively pursued their avocations. Phillip and Olive Tocker endowed the foundation with their estates in 1994 and 1993 respectively. After years of supporting a wide range of community-based causes, the foundation discovered a need in small, rural Texas libraries serving populations of 12,000 or less. In 1992 the foundation board decided to focus grant distributions in this way. The foundation partners with community libraries to meet the particular needs of the community. Professional Development The Tocker Foundation is proud to support the continuing education of our state’s rural librarians. Texas Library Association (TLA) Travel Stipend The Tocker Foundation is pleased to provide travel stipends for staff at rural libraries to attend the TLA’s annual conference. Attendees will enjoy opportunities to learn from experts in the field, find new vendors in the exhibit hall, network with their peers, hear from authors as well gain valuable CEU’s at designated sessions.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Which libraries qualify for a Tocker Foundation Grant?Communities in the state of Texas that serve a population of 12,000 or less according to statistics from the Texas State Library database. County libraries may use the city population rather than the assigned county population when determining the eligibility.Texas Library Association (TLA) Travel StipendLibrary staff in towns of 12,000 or less qualify to apply for this grant. First-time attendees are given priority in this grant selection. Apply early to plan for a full experience at the conference. This stipend is to be used towards travel expenses or replacement library personnel.Amounts remaining from the stipend after the conference are to be used for direct library needs.