TLA's Libraries Transform Texas Podcast

Last year, Danielle Brigati, Library Director of the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library in Kerrville, found herself at the center of a controversy after the public library's Banned Books Week display was challenged by community members. In this episode, Dianna Landes, Director of the Lakehills Area Library, interviews Danielle about what happened, how the library stood up for the right to read, and her advice on making sure your public library has a strong collection development policy.

Christy Reynolds, TLA's Membership Engagement Manager, gives us the scoop on the new Members-Only area and how best to use our online community, TLA Engage.

TLA Education and Programs Manager Kelly Mantay shares keys to success when submitting a proposal for TLA 2024, the Texas Library Association's annual conference that will be held next spring in San Antonio. From mistakes to avoid to what kind of sessions librarians are looking for, you can learn it in this short podcast!

Whether you are middle grade or middle-aged, this episode has a book recommendation for you! Join us for a laugh and a chat with Austin area humor writer Wendi Aarons. In the last year she has written two books with funny leads. The first is, "Ginger Mancino, Kid Comedian," about a funny adolescent girl that is trying to find a new voice in her stand-up comedian career, all while she navigates the sometimes funny, sometimes not, world of middle-school friendships. The second, humorous memoir "I'm Wearing Tunics Now" chronicles Aarons' personal experience navigating professional pursuits, friendships, and fashion in middle age. Beyond book talks, hear the role libraries played in Aarons' writing over the years as well as ideas on how libraries can support local authors! Hosted by librarian Cate Sweeney.

Passive programming ideas are something every librarian needs. Passive programming encompasses a variety of types of programs that allow students to

In this episode, Katherine Counterman, an elementary school librarian in Katy ISD and a member of TLA’s PR and Marketing Committee, interviews Melinda Lanham, lead librarian of Belton ISD and librarian at Belton New Tech High School. We’ll also hear from Noel Hill, a teacher and librarian at Calhoun Middle School in Denton ISD. We’re excited for you to hear their ideas.

Today’s episode focuses on two innovative ways to do Story Walks. A Story Walk is a fun activity where pages from a children's book are printed and placed in displays along a walkable path at a park, school, or neighborhood. In today’s episode, Katherine Counterman of TLA’s PR and Marketing Committee, interviews Haley Nye Phillips, outreach librarian at Denton Public Library and Megan Farve, Outreach Librarian at McKinney Public Library. Haley discusses the Story Walk program she brought to Denton Square, the downtown courthouse square in Denton and Megan talks about the “Choose Your Own Adventure” Storywalk she created in McKinney.

Dianna Landes, Director of the Lakehills Area Library, is our guest host for this podcast. She interviews Cindy Fisher, Senior Program Coordinator, Texas Broadband Development Office, and the former Digital Inclusion Coordinator of TSLAC. They talk about the Texas Digital Navigators grant program, run through TSLAC, which awarded grants to help libraries close the digital divide in their area in a measurable way. Digital Navigators are individuals who address the whole digital inclusion process — home connectivity, devices, and digital skills — with community members through repeated interactions. Dianna discusses the Digital Navigator program at her library and they talk about the ways libraries can help people connect.

In this special podcast series about the TALL Texans Leadership Institute, Brandi Dawson, chair of the TALL Texans Round Table, examines a different aspect of TALL Texans each week. In this episode, Brandi talks with TALL Texan alumni Judy Boone (Director of Digital and Learning Resources at Irving ISD) and Chamong Siong (Senior Librarian, Fort Worth Public Library) about their experiences at TALL Texans and what to expect from the content there. They discuss how TALL Texans can help librarians at various stages in their careers and how they keep the lessons from TALL fresh after the program ends.