Fall 2024 Issue

Top Stories

SLIS Updates

SLIS welcomes two new staff members: Admissions Coordinator Tawnda Smith and Administrative Assistant Lindsey Hollands.
Welcome to WyLaina Polk, who joined the faculty in January 2024 as Visiting Lecturer and Assistant Professor Paria Aria, PhD, who joins this fall semester.
Faculty members Kerol Harrod and Amy Lanier recently had their title change from Lecturer to Assistant Clinical Professor. Congratulations Kerol and Amy!
Congratulations to the College of Professional Education Faculty & Staff award winners from SLIS:
- Kelly Meyer - Above and Beyond Staff Award
- Aaron Elkins - Above and Beyond Faculty Award
- Katie Loomis - Outstanding Faculty Service Award
- Kerol Harrod - COPE Ambassador Award
SLIS Associate Professor Carol Perryman, PhD, retired at the end of Fall 2023. We wish Carol the best in her retirement!

Faculty News

Kristen Becker, EdD, published an article: Becker, K. (2024). Does Time Matter When Greeting Patrons? Observations from a Two-Year Study in Texas Public Libraries, Journal of Library Administration 64(1), DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2023.2287943.

Kelly Born, MLS, SLIS Adjunct Faculty, was the recipient of two awards: Elementary Librarian of the Year for Denton ISD, and the She-Rock in Education award from Friends with Benefits of Denton. These awards recognize her achievements as a school librarian and her tireless advocacy for school libraries.

Aaron Elkins, PhD, celebrated 10 years of service at TWU.

Kerol Harrod, MLS, did an interview with Lucinda Breeding-Gonzales of the Denton Record-Chronicle about book bans. The article was published in the January 8, 2024, issue and also ran in KERA News: "Taking a page from Florida advocates, Texans launch Freedom to Read to push back against book bans."

Harrod presented on “Book Banning, Censorship, and Intellectual Freedom” to the Junior World Affairs Council (JWAC) of North Texas, at their virtual discussion March 7, 2024. The event was sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Harrod gave a presentation at the 2024 TLA annual conference, “Beyond Book Challenges: Advocating for Intellectual Freedom in the Media.”

Harrod was mentioned as the quoted expert in an article by Zippia about public services librarian skills: "Public Services Librarian Skills For Your Resume And Career."

Rebecca Ivey, MLS, SLIS Adjunct Faculty, was the winner of the Texas Library Association’s 2024 Siddie Joe Johnson Award. Rebecca is a librarian at the Denton Public Library, and this award is in recognition of her outstanding achievement in children's library service.

Ling Hwey Jeng, PhD, celebrated 20 years of service at TWU.

Amy Lanier, MLS, presented a poster at the 2024 TLA annual conference, “Trigger Warnings as a Barrier to Information Access.”

Sylvia Vardell, PhD, and Professor Emerita, moderated the 20th Annual Poetry Round Up at the 2024 TLA annual conference.

Slava Zavalin, PhD, gave a panel presentation at the 2024 TLA annual conference, “Turning the Corner: Understanding New and Future Developments in Cataloging and Metadata.”

Tara Zimmerman, PhD, gave a College of Professional Education (COPE) Research and Innovation Talk February 22, 2024, on her funded research project, “How School Librarians Can Teach Children to Detect and Avoid Misinformation.” Her project is funded by an Early Career Research Development grant from the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Zimmerman was also featured in a podcast episode, published July 23 — "Dr. Tara Zimmerman: No More Misinformation" — on the Critically Speaking podcast based on her work on misinformation.

Student News

Susan Minchew won first place in the Spring 2024 TWU Graduate Student Photo Contest. Her photo was titled “Study Moments,” with the description: “Being a graduate student means finding opportunities to study in between juggling work and family life — even if it's in the car, while waiting to pick up your kid.”

Tammi Halliburton received a grant from the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Education Foundation. Halliburton developed the grant as part of SLIS's LS 5183: Grant Writing and Management course. The purpose of the grant is to help improve science scores in her school, and the funds will be used to purchase science books, a hands-on science activity table from Demco, science themed bookmarks, a microscope with slides, a 3D planets model and a large rug that has the sun and planets listed in order.

Alumni News

Jessica Berger, MLS 2020, was featured in the TLA Weekly News Brief on March 19, 2024. Jessica is the Director of the Victoria (TX) Public Library, which celebrated the opening of the library's new anytime pick-up locker, providing residents access to the library's collection at any time of day.

Maggie Bootman, MLS 2013, has accepted the position of Technical Services and Collection Development Librarian at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, effective July 1, 2024.

Dianne Connery, MLS 2020, and Alicia Deal, MLS 2021, were both quoted in a Library Journal article from May 19, 2024, titled “Intersectional Accessibility: Creating Inclusive Spaces, Examining Ebook Accessibility”. Connery is the the Pottsboro (TX) Library Director, and Deal is a public services librarian at the Dallas Public Library’s J. Erik Jonsson Central Library.

Elizabeth Garza, a former SLIS Graduate Assistant, won the 2024 Outstanding Graduate Assistant Student Award from TWU's College of Professional Education (COPE). This award is given to a graduate assistant in COPE who excels in performing duties to further the mission of the college. Garza was nominated by Tara Zimmerman, PhD, who said: “Liz has served as my graduate teaching assistant for four consecutive semesters, consistently impressing me with her work ethic and commitment. Besides efficiently helping with tasks directly for me as the professor, she proactively answers questions and seeks solutions to problems for students. Liz compassionately supports students as they encounter personal and professional issues that affect their course work, following up and communicating with them whenever needed. Liz should teach a seminar for other GAs and pass on her secrets because she is simply stellar!"

Peace Ossum, MLS/MSHS 2013, was recently named Director of Research Data Services at MIT Libraries and will begin her new role in August 2024, as announced by MIT Libraries.

Sue Ridnour, MLS 1987, retired as Flower Mound (TX) Public Library Director in March 2024 after 24 years as director. She was featured in the TLA Weekly News Brief on March 19, and in an article in the Cross Timbers Gazette: “Longtime librarian ready for the next chapter.”

Ramiro S. Salazar, MLS 1979, retired as San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) Director. He was quoted in a Library Journal article from July 1, 2024, “Who’s Next?: What Happens When Longtime Library Leaders Retire.”

Sam Torrez, MLS 2022, is now a Film & Video Librarian working at NASA on an eMITS contract.

Brandon West, MLS 2013, received a Frank B. Sessa Scholarship for Continuing Professional Education from Beta Phi Mu. West is a member of SLIS's Beta Lambda Chapter.

SLIS's Beta Lambda chapter of Beta Phi Mu and SLIS's Graduate Library and Information Studies Association (GLISA) made the latest issue of the Beta Phi Mu Pipeline newsletter (page 10).

Congratulations to Lilly Ramin (Beta Lambda Chapter officer and MLS 2006) and Kara Belt (MLS student and GLISA president), who worked together to host a joint online discussion for SLIS students featuring Greg Hardin (Beta Lambda Chapter officer and MLS 2000). It was an excellent event that the two groups hope to offer again soon.

Page last updated 4:42 PM, August 28, 2024