SLIS represented TWU at TLA 2025

The annual Texas Library Association (TLA) conference is a regular highlight in the calendar for the School of Library and Information Studies at TWU and that continued again in Dallas in April 2025.

Faculty and staff enjoyed connecting with students and alumni at the annual SLIS reception held at the conference. SLIS and Director Gretchen Hoffman, PhD, recognized the Graduate Library and Information Studies Association (GLISA) scholarship winners and presented SLIS alumni awards.

Throughout the week, programs presented by TWU faculty and alumni included the following:

Tuesday, April 1

Family Place Libraries: What to Expect in your First Year – Rebecca Ivey (TWU adjunct/ Denton Public Library)
Pique their Interest with Poetry, Puppets, and Play – Leslie Smith (MLS ‘15/ NEISD San Antonio)
Spooky Season: Hair-Raising Horror Books for Kids (Author Panel) – Jackie Chetzron (MLS ‘02/Dallas ISD)
Nothing But the Truth: Nonfiction YA Author Panel – Paige Bowman (MLS ‘21/ Andrews County Library)
Texas Bluebonnet Award Speed Dating (Ticketed Event) – Terri Harkey (MLS ‘08/ retired SLC / Bluebonnet Award Coordinator TLA)
Story of My Life: Beautiful Biographies for Kids (Author Panel) – Rebecca Ivey (TWU adjunct/ Denton Public Library)

Wednesday, April 2

Nuestra Misión: Bringing Bilingual and Monolingual School Libraries Together – Crystal Doucette (MLS ‘23/ doctoral student/librarian)
E-Resource Essentials: Mastering Management Across Library Types – Angela Green (MLS ‘09/Klein ISD)
Harnessing Children’s Literature to Build Emotional Strength in Tough Times – Terri Harkey (MLS ‘08/ retired SLC)
Lariat List Author Panel – Jennifer Shaw (MLA ’13 / Irving Public Library) and Jackie Chetzron (MLS ‘02/Dallas ISD)
Poster Sessions – Looking into Mirrors and Windows: School Librarians’ Perspectives on Diverse Representation in Book Collections – Kim Krutka (MLS ’15 / Denton ISD)
Taking Off with TexQuest! – Monica Alcarez (MLS ’22 / Irving ISD) and Donald Cummings (MLS ’14 / Irving ISD)
Keep Calm When Job Changes Occur in Academia – Margaret Dawson (MLS ’05 / Texas A&M University)
TLA Leadership Opportunities: LAUNCH and TALL Texans – Crystal Doucette (MLS ‘23/ doctoral student/librarian)
Generative AI and Library Support in Higher Education – Michael Gutierrez (MLS ’23 / South Texas College)
Welcome Neurodiverse Users with Adapted Programming and Outreach – Jessica Rico (MLS ’24 / Plano Public Library)
Creating Fun, Passive Programs on a Budget – Brandi Grant (MLS ’08 / Frisco ISD)
Texas Bluebonnet 101 – Terri Harkey (MLS ‘08/ retired SLC / Bluebonnet Award Coordinator TLA)
Grants: Makin’ it Rain – Leane Krause (MLS ’19 / Klein ISD)

SLIS faculty at TLA 2025 booth

Thursday, April 3

Reading List Coordination Committee Meeting – Rebecca Ivey (TWU adjunct/ Denton Public Library)
Summer STEAM Camp: A Collaboration Between Library Services and Digital Learning – Judy Boone (MLS ’18 / Irving ISD)
Picture Perfect Books (Author Panel) – Shannon Houston (MLS ’14 / Round Rock ISD)
Adult Book Pairings for Programming – Jennifer Shaw (MLS ’13 / Irving Public Library) and Paige Bowman (MLS ’21 / Andrews County Library)
Kernels of Knowledge: Popping Up in an Academic Library – Michael Gutierrez (MLS ’23 / South Texas College)
Navigating the Library Profession: Insights from Academic, Public, and School Libraries – Joni Harris (MLS ’15 / Plano ISD) and Rebecca Ivey (TWU adjunct/ Denton Public Library)
Teaching K – 12 Information Literacy in the AI Age – Stacy Cameron (MLS ’05 / New Caney ISD)
TexQuest: Forging Your Path for College, Career, and Military Readiness – Norma Gutierrez (MLS ’13 / Educational Service Center, region 20)
Texas Topaz Reading List Presents Nonfiction Gems for Kids and Teens – Paige Bowman (MLS ’21 / Andrews County Library)
Texas Bluebonnet Award Author Session (Ticketed Event) – Terri Harkey (MLS ‘08/ retired SLC / Bluebonnet Award Coordinator TLA)
Nurturing Communities with Innovative Gardening Projects – Veronica McKay (MLS ’10 / Smith Public Library)
Speed Dating the Lariat List – Jennifer Shaw (MLS ’13 / Irving Public Library)
Innovative Elementary Programming, Dynamic Learning, and Empowerment – Carole Taylor (MLS ’19 / Mesquite ISD)
Librarians as Entrepreneurial Consultants: Tapping into the Gig Economy – Marj Atkinson (MLS ’12 / owner: Ask Marj, The Research Sage)
Unleashing the Dragon: TexQuest for Elementary Libraries – Norma Gutierrez (MLS ’13 / Educational Service Center, region 20)
Leading from the Stacks: Cultivating Leadership in School Libraries – Jillian Pratt (MLS ’21 / Comal ISD)
Dual Credit Populations in Community Colleges – Kathleen Westergren (MLS ’14 / Del Mar College)

Friday, April 4

Building Successful Behavior Management Solutions – Amber Alvarez (MLS ’20 / Euless Public Library)
Planning Your Own Sensory Museum – Anna Waugh (MLS ’20 / Mesquite ISD)

Page last updated 12:57 PM, December 2, 2025