The Tao of TLA 2016: Guest Post

It was my good fortune to receive the GLISA scholarship to attend the Texas Library Association (TLA) 2016 Conference in Houston. It was Disneyland, complete with my favorite characters. Throughout the week I dined with old friends, made new TWU friends, finally met one of my favorite TWU professors, sang along with other Opening Ceremony attendees the Reading Rainbow theme song, and heard LeVar Burton, Jeff Kinney, and Dav Pilkey speak. And I gave Dan Salmieri, the illustrator of Dragons Love Tacos, a huge hug after the Illustrators Sketch-Off. But wait, you ask. Aren’t you studying academic librarianship?

 Early in the MLS program we were asked to define the path of our studies. Although academic librarianship is my primary interest, my passion is divided. My young children are in primary school. Our family is breathing the Texas 2x2 and Bluebonnet books. So between fascinating sessions on censorship, the application of ACRL competences to academic curricula, the nature of embedded librarianship, and the pros and cons of open source vs. closed source LIS software, there were Bluebonnet awards luncheons and Speed Dating sessions with the authors. GLISA gave me four perfect days where my diverse library interests came together. Heaven.

 If you’re not a member of GLISA yet, you’re missing out. If you are a member, thank you. I am a better librarian for having attended TLA. And better fed. There were waffles and wings, y’all, at the TWU Breakfast Klub Meet Up. See you there in 2017.


Guest post by Rebecca Cannon, winner of the GLISA TLA scholarship! Rebecca is a GLISA member from Tyler, TX, who will graduate Fall 2016.

What's going on with GLISA?

Did everyone have a nice Spring Break? Yes, school has been back in session since then but things have been hectic in the SLIS world!

- Final exams were due Monday, March 21st, and all who submitted will be waiting on the edge of their seats until Wednesday, April 6th when results are announced. Good luck to all SLIS students who submitted their final exam this semester!

- It's midterm time - research and papers and presentations, oh my!

- In case you missed it yesterday, Rebecca Cannon won $200 to attend TLA in April! Congrats, Rebecca!

- We're opening the blog for guest posts from current and former SLIS students and GLISA members, so email your pitches and posts to GLISAatTWU@gmail.com with "Guest Post" in the subject line.

- Have you been reading the March Book Club selection The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B? Chime in if you've read it or are currently reading it - discussions will start soon on all of GLISA's social media accounts and Blackboard.

The TLA Scholarship Winner is...

Congratulations to Rebecca Cannon on winning the 2016 GLISA Scholarship contest! Becka will receive $200 to help cover the cost of attending the TLA Annual Meeting this April. We look forward to meeting Becka and all SLIS students then!

Rebecca's entry can be viewed HERE!

Thanks for your submissions!

2015-2016 GLISA Officers
Christine De Angelis, President
Paloma Lenz, Vice President
Breanne Henson, Secretary
Tracy Jolivette, Treasurer
Allison Renner, Web Administrator

What's Going On with GLISA?

Happy Monday, everyone! Here's a round-up of what's going on with GLISA to get your week kicked off right.

- The GLISA scholarship contest ends in ONE WEEK - that's plenty of time to get your elevator pitch videos recorded and submitted. This contest is ONLY open to GLISA members, so you have a great chance of winning! One winner will get $200 to attend TLA in Houston in April, and one winner will get $300 to attend ALA in Orlando in June. See more details on the original post, and on GLISA's Blackboard. Good luck!

- This month we're reading The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten for the GLISA book club. Go ahead and pick up your copy and start reading! We'll post discussion questions and jumping off points for you to share your thoughts on Blackboard, Facebook, Twitter (#GLISAreads), and the blog.

- Service projects are on-going, so check in the newsletter and on Blackboard to see how you can volunteer and get involved.

- We will be opening the blog to guest posts after Spring Break, so start thinking about what you'd like to write about to get your name out there. You can write about the stress of the final exam, how your practicum went, what classes have helped you the most on-the-job, and more. We're open to anything school- and library-related.

- It's Teen Tech Week! How is your library getting involved?

TLA/ALA Scholarship Contest

GLISA is hosting a members only scholarship contest!  One member will receive $200 to attend TLA in Houston in April.  One member will receive $300 to attend ALA in Orlando in June.  

Participants will submit a short video... think 'elevator speech.' 

The contest runs from 22 February through 14 March 2016.  See the GLISA Blackboard for details, contest instructions, and rubric.  Good luck!

Not a GLISA member yet?  Join here: http://goo.gl/forms/kGPLd3un2Q