TLA's Libraries Transform Texas Podcast

Librarians have a tremendous number of skills, but sometimes we lack confidence in promoting those skills to the world. Kendra Harrell, director of the Atlanta, TX Public Library, talks with Kelly Hoppe, Head of Outreach and Instruction at Cornette Library, West Texas A&M University, and Carol Seiler of EBSCO Information Services about library skill sets and how to market your true capabilities to other libraries and the non-library world.

In this episode, Jeannette Davies of the San Antonio Public Library interviews Pat Bjornson, a longtime volunteer with the Friends of the San Antonio Public Library, to talk about Friends of the Library groups and everything they do to help public libraries at the branch level. From holding book sales to raising money for remodels to hosting appreciation dinners for library staff, public libraries could not do what they do without support from Friends volunteers.

Traditionally, we think of summer reading programs at public libraries. But what about a summer program at your school library?

In today’s episode, Katherine Counterman, an elementary librarian in Katy ISD, interviews Sean Heller, librarian at Stockdick Junior High School in Katy ISD. For the last five years, Sean kept his school library open one day a week in the summer. He saw great turnout from students and families and any student, from any school, was welcome. He talks about story times for younger siblings, parents using WiFi and keeping books available in a book desert while school is out. 

Brandi Dawson, Supervisor of Library Media Services for Lewisville ISD, hosts this panel discussion about the TALL Texans leadership program -- applying, attending, and what happens after the week of learning. Guests on the panel are Heather Hornor, Library & Information Tech Specialist at Richardson Independent School District; Dawn Wilbert, Director of the Decatur Public Library; LaMoya Burks, Head Librarian at Texarkana College and Valerie Prilop, Senior Librarian at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In honor of National Library Week (April 3-9), Jeannette Davies of the San Antonio Public Library interviews staff from the Patrick Heath Public Library in Boerne about their creative programs. Guests are Natalie Morgan, Robin Stauber, Alison Topper and Erica Metz, all of Patrick Heath PL. They have a rollicking conversation about food, cookbooks, foods popular during the 1950s and other creative programs. Bon appetit!

With more than 250 education sessions to pick from at the TLA 2022 Annual Conference in Fort Worth this April, it's hard to know what to attend! Here to recommend sessions that are "hidden gems" are Dan Burgard, TLA President, and Curren McLane and Stacy Cameron, co-chairs of the Conference Program Committee. They all have recommendations for sessions that might get overlooked, but are well worth your time. 

This episode is about switching library careers from one track to another -- and sometimes to another after that. From school to public, from public to vendor, public to academic, and more; hear some real-life experiences from TLA members. This episode is hosted by library director Kendra Harrell, and features interviews with Priscilla Delgado, Jackie Kruzie, and Martha Lopez Coleman. This is part 2 of 2; part 1 is season 2, episode 7.

This episode is about switching library careers from one track to another -- and sometimes to another after that. From school to public, from public to vendor, public to academic, and more; hear some real-life experiences from TLA members. This episode is hosted by library director Kendra Harrell, and features interviews with Morgan Brickey-Jones, Lisa Zinkie, and Kelly Hoppe. This is part 1 of 2; part 2 is season 2, episode 8.

Alexandra Cornejo of the Harlingen School of Health Professions interviews Margarita Longoria, author and editor of the anthology Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America, which has received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, School Library Journal and more. Twenty stand-alone short stories, essays, poems, and more from celebrated and award-winning authors make up this YA anthology that explores the Mexican American experience. Both active Texas Library Association members, Alexandra and Margarita talk about how the book came together, volunteer experiences with TLA and why being a librarian is the best job in the world.

Our topic for this episode is TLA Member Benefits and who’s who on the TLA Staff. Recently, TLA’s wonderful membership coordinator, Christy Reynolds, spoke to District 10 at their fall meeting about the benefits of TLA membership, and shared a quick rundown of the TLA staff and each of our duties. We thought this information was very valuable and wanted to share it with all of our members. Join Christy in this episode to learn more about TLA!