Summer 2019 Issue

Top Stories

Read more faculty, alumni and student news:

Faculty Accomplishments, 2018-2019

Aaron Elkins was quoted in an interview with KTRH 740AM radio, a popular Houston talk radio station, on a story about the damage screen time may have on an adolescent’s brain. Dr. Elkins gave an invited presentation with Dr. Jennifer Moore, “Purposeful practice: Using EBP in your library,” for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD professional development day, Euless, TX, November 2018.

Gretchen Hoffman co-authored a book chapter: Snow, Karen, Gretchen L. Hoffman, Maurine McCourry, and Heather Moulaison Sandy. 2018. “Phoenix or Dodo?: Re-Envisioning Cataloging Education.” In Re-Envisioning the MLS: Perspectives on the Future of Library and Information Science Education (Advances in Librarianship vol. 44B), p.227-239, edited by Lindsay C. Sarin, Johnna Percell, Paul T. Jaeger, and John Carlo Bertot. Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing.

Ling Hwey Jeng gave an invited presentation, “Managing a Federal Grant Project: TLCART as a Case Study,” at the National ChengChi University, Graduate Institute of Library, Information, and Archival Studies, on May 13, 2019, in Taipei, Taiwan.

Hyuk-Jin Lee gave a poster presentation at Digital HERITAGE 2018 New Realities: Authenticity & Automation in the Digital Age, 3rd International Congress & Expo, in October 2018 in San Francisco. His presentation was titled "The impact of physical object and visual image on social cognitive concept on cultural heritage.”

Dr. Lee also had a publication accepted: “The Impact of Visual Media on Social Cognitive Concept,” Virtual Archaeology Review, vol. 11, no. 20 (2019).

Jennifer Moore, along with Dr. Joe Sanchez (from Queens College), was awarded a $150,000 grant from the IMLS in July 2019 for the project, "Integrating Computational Thinking into Youth Services Courses.” In 2018, Dr. Moore, Dr. Sarah Evans, and two faculty from UNT received $45,598 in funding from the IMLS for their project titled "Preparing Librarians for Data Literacy Leadership."

Dr. Moore co-authored an article, "Incorporating Computational Thinking into Library Graduate Course Goals and Objectives,” published in volume 21 (July 2018) of School Library Research. Along with SLIS graduates Veronica Hernandez and Amy Williams (MLS spring 2019), and student Erin Bartley (graduating summer 2019), Dr. Moore published "Computational Thinking in Your School Library" on the AASL Knowledge Quest Blog in March 2019. This was an invited publication.

Dr. Moore gave several presentations:

Moore was invited to present "Computational Thinking in Your Library: Systematic Problem Solving in School & Real Life," with SLIS students Lisa Gherman and Carrie Rios, at the May 14, 2019, AASL Webinar.
Along with Sarah Evans, John Marino (from UNT), and Barbara Schultz-Jones (from UNT), she presented a poster and a related paper at the iConference in Washington, DC, on April 2, 2019.
She was an invited presenter for the concurrent session, "Ready to code (RtC): From concepts to program," and an invited presenter for "Integrating computational thinking into the LIS classroom" for the inaugural year of the Google Teaching Theater, at the American Library Association Annual Conference in June 2018.

Dr. Moore was interviewed in October 2018 by the editor of Computational Conversations, a blog focused on Tech-Based Teaching, in which she discussed computational thinking in the context of school libraries.

Carol Perryman, co-editor of the peer reviewed journal of the Medical Library Association’s Research Section, Hypothesis, is working with colleagues at Indiana University - Purdue University, Indianapolis to move the 18-year-old journal to an online, open access platform for increased visibility. Among other changes for the journal, a new evidence-based submission platform and peer review process is in place, as well as a pioneering column called Hypothesis: Failure that invites researchers and practitioners to share their ‘lessons learned,’ and a new award intended to recognize quality research-related training.

Dr. Perryman also published an article: “Credit due: Multiple author attribution for interdisciplinary informatics research groups.” Hypothesis, 30(1):21-32.

Dr. Perryman and Dr. Ling Hwey Jeng had a refereed article accepted for publication: “Changing models of library practice to benefit rural communities,” Public Library Quarterly, 38(3), 2019, in press.

Sylvia Vardell chaired the meeting of the Children’s Literature Legacy Award Committee at the annual conference of the American Library Association in Washington, DC, in June 2019. Dr. Vardell was elected in 2018 to the Executive Committee of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), the U.S. representative to that body of 10 members, and in spring 2019, she attended the biennial meeting of the Executive Committee of the IBBY and the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy.

Dr. Vardell had several publications including:

The third edition of her book, Children’s Literature in Action: A Librarian’s Guide (ABC-CLIO; Libraries Unlimited)
An article, “Exploring the Global Landscape through Digital Poetry,” in the March 2019 issue of English Journal, a publication of the National Council of Teachers of English
Monthly columns in Science and Children, a publication of the National Science Teachers Association: “Science Strategies through Poetry” in April/May, and “Poetry, Puppies, and Results” in July
Monthly columns in School Library Connection: “Novels in Verse: New, Diverse and Accessible” in April, and “Inspiration and Information Online All the Time” in May
An article, "Exploring the Global Landscape through Digital Poetry," in the March issue of English Journal, 108.4 (2019): 100-102, the secondary level journal of the National Council of Teachers of English
An article, "Literary Lives: Biography & Memoir," in School Library Connection, October 2018

Dr. Vardell served as a judge for the Audies Awards, the Audio Publishers Association’s recognition of outstanding achievement by the authors, narrators, publishers, and producers of the most talked-about audiobooks in the industry; the awards were announced on Monday, March 4, 2019.

Dr. Vardell conducted an in-service workshop for ESC Region 9 on May 30, 2019, along with author Janet Wong, “Creating a Positive School Culture with Poetry: Learning, Doing, and Wondering (Grades K-12),” sponsored by Midwestern State University’s West College of Education and Region 9 Education Service Center.

Dr. Vardell also gave several presentations:

“15^th Annual Poetry Roundup,” at the 2019 Texas Library Association annual conference in Austin, TX, along with poets David Elliott, Kip Wilson, Alan Katz, David Bowles, Marilyn Singer, Laura Purdie Salas, and Janet Wong
"Take 5 for Poetry" at the Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE) conference in Waco, TX, on March 2, 2019
“Creating a Positive School Culture Through Poetry,” at the annual convention of the National Council of Teachers of English (with authors Janet Wong and K. A. Holt and NJ principal Tom Marshall) in Houston, TX, in November 2018

Alumni and Student News, Summer 2019

Alumni News

Erica Block (2014 MLS) is the Line Manager, Rural Services, of Bookmobile East for the New Mexico State Library. She is very excited about the Rural Bookmobile program, which offers services to underserved and rural communities in New Mexico through three bookmobile routes.

Michelle Boule (2004 MLS) was appointed by the Wyoming State Library as the Director of Library Services at Sheridan College’s Mary Brown Kooi Library.

Jackie Chetzron (2002 MLS) completed her Ph.D. at UNT in Learning Technologies. Her dissertation was “Middle School Librarian Conveyance of Information Gathering Techniques to Students.”

Heidi Daniel (2006 MLS) made the national news when she was interviewed by ABC News Good Morning America for a segment on the “Nicest Places in America” in October 2018. Heidi is president and CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, MD, which was selected as a finalist for Reader’s Digest “Nicest Places in America.” Heidi was named CEO of the Enoch Pratt library in July 2017.

Alex Hatley (2017 MLS) was named the Managing Librarian at the Janet F. Harte Public Library in October of 2018. This is one of 6 locations in the Corpus Christi (TX) Public Library system.

Sonya (Bell) Lockett (2003 MLS) was awarded Tenure at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff located in Pine Bluff, AR. Sonya is an Associate Librarian employed as the Coordinator of Public Services at the John Brown Watson Memorial Library. She is responsible for the administration of Circulation, Course Reserves and General Collection Stacks Maintenance.

Meagan May (2018 MLS) has been hired as the Special Collections Public Services Librarian in the University of North Texas Willis Library.

Candace Norton (2015 MLS) has recently accepted a federal librarian position as a Reference and Instruction Librarian with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, MD. Candace is using her experience in distance and remote learning and training as well as her background in scholarly impact evaluation and data visualization to support the community at USUHS as a member of the James A. Zimble Learning Resource Center.

Jill Ratcliffe (2014 MLS) has been named library branch manager of the West Branch Library of the Tom Green County Library System in San Angelo, TX, where she replaced the retiring branch manager, Evelyn Coley (2002 MLS), who was also her mentor. Jill was featured in an article in the San Angelo Standard-Times about her new position.

Lisa Taylor (2007 MLS) had a short story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog: 101 Tales of Family, Friendship & Fun. Taylor, Lisa. “All the News That's Fit to Chew,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog, edited by Amy Newmark, 115-116. Cos Cob, CT: Chicken Soup for the Soul, 2019.

Jenna Yeakley (2016 MLS) was featured in an article in the Longview News-Journal about her work as a library assistant in the Longview (TX) Public Library, where she is a supervisor in the library’s youth services department. Jenna and her husband are active volunteers in the Longview community.

Student News

Elizabeth (Dianne) Connery, a member of the TLCART grant cohort, was awarded a Digital Inclusion grant from the IMLS in the amount of $49,657 for the Pottsboro Area Public Library, where she is the library director. The IMLS grant award description states: “The Pottsboro Area Public Library in Texas will develop library programming based on the popular gaming trend, eSports. The project will combine digital literacy and esports by looking at how games are programmed, the technology used to deliver the game experience, and the strategies involved in competition. The project will connect learning and play so that youth, educators and families experience the real-world value of education through interest-driven learning. The goal of the project is to help participants build digital literacy and critical thinking skills. These include online behavior management and online communication protocols and safety measures.” Congratulations, Dianne!

Carla Sewer was featured in an article in The Virgin Islands Daily News about her new position as librarian of the Elaine I. Sprauve Public Library in St. John, US Virgin Islands. Carla was also awarded the 2018 Librarian Legacy Scholarship by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. This scholarship is awarded annually to residents of the Virgin Islands enrolled in graduate-level Library Science or Information Studies programs accredited by the ALA. Carla resides on St. John, where she is passionate about her community. She is pursuing both a Ph.D. in Family Studies and the MLS at TWU.

Page last updated 10:07 AM, January 26, 2022