TLA's Libraries Transform Texas Podcast

Join Jean Darnell, a librarian at Dessau Middle School in Pflugerville ISD, as she chats with Da'Taeveyon Daniels, partnership director at Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, about student advocacy and activism. Da'Taeveyon shares how the lack of representation in his high school library inspired his activism. He discusses the significance of representation, his involvement with the Natio...

Join Kendra Harrell, library director at the Atlanta, Texas, Public Library, as she chats with Maggie Dumont, librarian at Brown Crossing Library in Boise, Idaho, about the flavorful world of spice kits and spice programming. They share ideas on creating spice kits, selecting the best spices, and offering innovative food programs in libraries. Tune in for a tasty discussion on how to add some zest...

Join former Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Chair Christina Taylor in conversation with Moni Barrette from the American Library Association’s Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table. Discover creative ways for library workers to integrate comics and graphic novels into their programs and teaching. From interactive workshops to engaging activities, this episode explores strategies beyond tr...

Join host Jeannette Davies from the San Antonio Public Library as she engages in a candid conversation with John Trischitti, executive director of the Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin, delving into the landscape of literacy in Texas. Exploring the hurdles in addressing this issue, they dissect Trischitti's TED Talk on librarians and literacy, emphasize the value of forging partnerships,...

Step into the world of literature with host Beatrice Saba, Library Director of the Bryan College Station Public Library System, as she engages in a captivating conversation with New York Times bestselling author Tomi Adeyemi. Known for her acclaimed novel "Children of Blood and Bone," the first installment in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, Adeyemi shares insights into her sources of inspi...

Join host Michele Santos in a conversation with Marianne DeLeon, the newly appointed CEO of the Texas Book Festival. Delve into Marianne's motivations for taking on this exciting role, exploring what drew her to this opportunity and what she anticipates most in her new position. The discussion unfolds to encompass Marianne's vision for fundraising, the pivotal role of libraries in communit...

In our season 6 premier, host Michele Santos talks to Howard Marks and Angela Gaule of the Ector County Library in Odessa about the Gale Excel Adult High School Program at their library. The program gives people aged 21 and over the ability to earn their high school diploma online. The three discuss how to start the program at your public library, challenges, and success stories. 

In this short-but-sweet episode (less than 10 minutes) Emily Warwas of the Cedar Park Public Library talks with Caleb Kraft, Senior Editor of Make: Magazine, about craft and science projects at the library.

Elsie Purcell, Library Director of Hondo Public Library, shares the joys and challenges of rural librarianship in Hondo, population 8400.

Cynthia Rodriguez, Director of Library Services at Laredo College Libraries, and chair-elect of the Texas Council of Academic Libraries, is our guest for this episode. She shares all the reasons we're excited for the upcoming TCAL annual conference, Sept 18-19 in College Station, from networking with other academic library leaders to the keynote address from Dr. Michelle Cantu-Wilson.

In this special "Banned Books Week" episode, Jeannette Davies of the San Antonio Public Library interviews Leila Green Little and Diane Moster, two of the plaintiffs in the Little vs. Llano County civil lawsuit. Little and Moster are two of the seven plaintiffs in the lawsuit; all seven received the Sam G. Whitten Intellectual Freedom Award from the Texas Library Association for their ou...

Jessica Silva, Faculty Librarian at Austin Community College, interviews #FReadom Fighters Becky Calzada and Carolyn Foote about founding this grassroots movement for intellectual freedom. Calzada and Foote talk about how the #FReadom movement started, who inspires them and how they gained experience as advocates.

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,...

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 nav...

Passive programming ideas are something every librarian needs. Passive programming encompasses a variety of types of programs that allow students to participate on their own, at any time. It might mean an array of board games or giant Jenga or checkers at the library, or make and take kits students can bring home.  In this episode, Katherine Counterman, an elementary school librarian in Katy ISD a...

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, O...

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...

This special episode is all about the TLA 2023 Annual Conference, happening April 19-22 in Austin. We have two guests here to talk about “What to Know Before You Go.” We’re delighted to have Jenni Jacobs, librarian from Texas Tech University and chair of the New Member Round Table, and Christy Reynolds, membership coordinator at TLA, as our guests for this episode.

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...

Brandi Dawson, chair of the TALL Texans Round Table, talks about where to find funding (stipends from your unit, school district foundations) to help cover the cost of the TALL Texans Leadership Institute.

What are the "Hidden Gems" that you don't want to miss at the upcoming TLA Annual Conference - the education sessions that are worth your time, but might otherwise get overlooked? Here to share their wisdom is Mary Woodard, our TLA President, recently retired from Mesquite ISD; Jo Giudice, co-chair of the Conference Program Committee and the Director of the Dallas Public Library; and Emma McDonald...

Brandi Dawson, chair of the TALL Texans Round Table, interviews Donna Kearley, chair of the TALL Texans Selection Committee, about common mistakes to avoid when applying for the TALL Texans Leadership Institute and why it's worth applying again even if you applied unsuccessfully before.

Alexandra Cornejo, chair of the TLA PR & Marketing Committee, and Library Media Specialist at the Harlingen School of Health Professions, interviews Karina Quilantan-Garza, TLA's Librarian of the Year. Karina is the Library Media Specialist at Jaime Escalante Middle School in Pharr-San Juan- Alamo ISD. They discuss advocating for their students in the Rio Grande Valley, setting up a gaming clu...