TLA 2015 Awards
Association-wide Awards
Librarian of the Year: Lisa Hernandez, Pharr- San Juan Alamo ISD High School/
College Career and Technology Academy
Outstanding Services to Libraries – Glenn Dromgoole, volunteer with the Abilene
Public Library and West Texas Book Festival
Distinguished Service – Jeanette Larson, author, consultant, and librarian (formerly
with Austin Public Library and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
Lifetime Achievement – Larry Justiss, retired director of Tom Green County Public
Library
Wayne Williams Library Project of the Year – Jo Anne Reed, Cheryl Hensley, Susan F.
Carnes, Jennifer Griffin Lengyel, and San Juana Elizondo – Libraries and Lunch Sync
Up
Libraries Change Communities – Lisa Youngblood and the Stewart C. Meyer Harker
Heights Public Library
PR Branding Iron Awards
Best of Show: Klein ISD “O.S.C.A.R.” Awards
The O.S.C.A.R. (Our Students Care About Reading) initiative began as an idea from
Wunderlich principal’s participation in TLA’ Strong Libraries Strong Scores miniconference in 2012. This innovative approach to campus-wide literacy reinvents the
idea of traditional reading incentive programs.
CATEGORY WINNERS
Special Events Winner: Klein ISD “O.S.C.A.R.”
Campaign Winner: Zula B. Wylie Public Library: Read Across the World & Get
Energized with Summer Reading Programs AND Door to Discovery
Broadcast Advertising Winner: University of North Texas (UNT) - A Day in the
Life of UNT: Portal to Texas History Video
Print Media Winner: Benbrook Public Library – “All walks of life. Every step of the
way.”
Speeches, Speakers’ Bureau Winner: Zula B. Wylie Public Library – “Library on
the Go”
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Honorable Mention: Nicole Cruz, “The Importance of School Libraries”
Logos and Brands Winner: University of North Texas (UNT) Libraries, “Label Me”
brand
Collateral Materials Winner: Zula B. Wylie Public Library’s “A Summer Reader
Lives Here” yard sign
Honorable Mention: Benbrook Public Library – Library brochure: Inform-ImagineInnovate.
DIVISIONS
College and University Libraries Division
Melody Kelly Support Staff Stipend: Mary K. Davis, M.P. Baker Library, Panola College
in Carthage. The award recognizes a worthy candidate with a stipend of $255 to help
defray the cost of attending the TLA conference.
Public Libraries Division
PLD Conference Stipends: Diana Slavinsky, Rae Cheney, Mandy Carrico, and Amanda
Shelburne. The stipends recognize worthy candidates with a stipend of $500 to support
attendance at the TLA conference.
DISTRICTS
District 3
District 3 TLA Annual Conference Stipends: Margaret (Maggie) Goodman, Johnson
City Library; and Liliana Martinez Howard, T.A. Brown Elementary School Library,
Austin Independent School District.
The award helps a deserving District 3 member to help pay TLA Conference expenses. The
member must also be in financial need of the award. Both stipend winners are outstanding
library professionals with a record of high achievement and continuing community service
to Central Texas.
Each stipend winner received $300 to help pay TLA conference expenses. Winners will be
recognized at the District 3 Caucus at conference.
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District 8
District 8 Conference Stipends: Paloma Lenz, library school student at TWU and a
volunteer with Houston Public Library and Houston Metropolitan Research Center
AND Kristie Munger, Cypress Fairbanks ISD
Each won a $250 stipend to assist with attendance at the TLA Annual Conference. Lenz and
Munger were selected because of their strong commitment to their libraries, community,
and serving TLA. Both articulated clearly how they would use the TLA experience to
improve their work in libraries. They will be recognized during the District 8 business
meeting.
Committees
Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Junior Library Guild/Diversity & Inclusion Committee Conference Stipend: Juanita
Becho-Flores, Innocent Awasom, and Tereza R. Merlo. The award consists of a $500
stipend to assist each recipient with the cost of attending the TLA conference.
Legislative Committee
Legislative Committee Preconference Stipends: Ann Conlon-Spring Branch ISD,
Roslyn Grant-Aldine ISD, Lucille Barnes-Aldine ISD, Carolina Castillo-PSJA ISD, Danna
Wilson-Brazoria County Library System, Elizabeth Howard-Texas Wesleyan
University, and Angela Hartman-Hutto ISD. The stipends cover the cost of preconference
registration for these budding library advocates.
Upstart Innovative Award Committee
1. Upstart Innovative Programming Award (School category): Jennifer Coleman
Murchison Elementary School
2. Upstart Innovative Programming Award (Other category): Felicia Williamson,
James Williamson, and Scott Vieira, Newton Gresham Library, SHSU
Sponsored by Demco, the Upstart Innovative Awards recognize librarians which have
implemented creative marketing projects and/or promotions that enhance the visibility of
the library. Each winner gets a plaque and a check for $1000. They will be recognized at the
second general session of the Texas Library Association Annual Conference on Thursday,
April 16.
Coleman is recognized for her Legos for Literacy program which aimed to ignite a love of
reading. The goal was not only to teach a love of reading but to equip reluctant readers to
increase their reading skills and see what else they could accomplish by stronger literacy
skills.
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Felicia Williamson, James Williamson, and Scott Vieira won for their program, Promoting
Finding Aids on Social Media, which promoted the Sam Houston State University special
collections. The goal was to launch 10 media platforms and then use these sites to promote
finding aids and enhance Google search results.
Woll Memorial Fund Committee
Christina Woll Award: Sherry S. Paul, Colby Glass Elementary Library
Round Tables
Acquisitions and Collection Development Round Table
ACDRT Conference Stipend: Catherine Urban, Amarillo Public Library. The award
recognizes a worth candidate. Urban will receive a stipend of $255.
Archives, Genealogy, and Local History Round Table
AGLHRT Conference Stipend: Charles Voellinger
The award recognizes a worthy candidate with a $500 stipend to help support attendance
at the TLA conference.
Black Caucus Round Table
BCRT Catherine Lee Encourager Award: Constance Matheny, Texas Comptroller’s
Office. This award is sponsored by Gleniece Robinson and acknowledges members who
have worked hard to support and promote the work of the Black Caucus Round Table.
Connie Matheny has researched, designed and coordinated the Black Caucus Round Table
booths for several years. She has actively worked tirelessly in the Black Caucus Round
Table. She will receive a plaque at the BCRT brunch.
Children’s Round Table
CRT Siddie Joe Johnson Award: C. Kay Gooch, Gullett Elementary School, Austin ISD.
The Siddie Joe Johnson Award is presented to a public or school librarian to recognize
outstanding achievement in children’s library service.
Kay Gooch embodies the spirit of this award’s namesake through her long-term high level
of performance, innovative programming, and community involvement both locally and
nationally. She is beloved by her peers, administrators, parents and students and her
library service to children knows no bounds. She will be honored at the Children’s Round
Table Breakfast, Friday, April 17.
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Laura Edwards Memorial Conference Stipend: Zulema Garza, Sharyland ISD
New Members Round Table
NMRT Student Conference Stipend: Raquel Williams (student),Texas Woman’s
University Student. The recipient is awarded a $500 stipend to assist with the cost
of registration and expenses for the TLA Annual Conference. Williams will be recognized at
the NMRT business beeting.
NMRT Professional Development Grant: Zachary Richardson, El Centro College. The
purpose of the NMRT Professional Development Grant is to encourage professional
development and participation by new professionals in TLA and NMRT activities.
Richardson will receive a $500 award and will be recognized at the NMRT business
meeting.
Reference & Information Services Round Table
RISRT Conference Stipend: Catherine Urban, Amarillo Public Library
The purpose of this stipend is to help a RISRT member with financial need attend the TLA
Annual Conference and to encourage ongoing interest in and involvement with RISRT
activities. Urban demonstrated a strong commitment to providing excellent reference and
information services in her current position.
She will receive $150 to assist with conference registration fees and will be recognized at
the conference program: Innovative Uses of Technology & Social Media in Reference &
Information Services on Thursday, April 16th from 2:00pm - 3:20pm.
Texas Reference Source Award: It's Your Money series, Texas Comptroller of Public
Accounts Glenn Hegar. Established by the Reference Round Table in 1996, the Texas
Reference Source Award recognizes an outstanding reference tool in Texas history, culture
or commerce. The Comptroller’s Office will be recognized at the Reference & Information
Services Round Table program on Thursday, April 16th from 2:00pm - 3:20pm.
The It’s Your Money series was selected, because the free reports located on the Texas
Transparency website show clearly how tax dollars are being used in Texas. This resource
provides in-depth and previously hard-to-find state and local government revenue,
expenditure, and debt data for state and local agencies, academic, and other institutions.
Supervision, Management, and Administration Round Table
SMART Stipend: Curren McLane. The award recognizes a worthy candidate with a
stipend of $250 to help defray the cost of attending the TLA conference.
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Small Community Libraries Round Table
Small Community Librarian of the Year: Pat McNabb, Yoakum County Libraries,
Plains and Denver City. The award recognizes what the nominees do for the community
with a focus on programming, grant writing, increasing community support, and
undertaking innovative marketing.
Pat McNabb serves two libraries in Yoakum County keeping both active and vital gathering
places in their communities. Her innovative programs include a highly successful
summer reading program and a maker space. The SC Librarian of the Year is sponsored by
the Tocker Foundation, which awards a $1000 cash prize to the librarian and library.
The award, which also includes the presentation of a plaque, will be conveyed at the SCLRT
Dessert Social on Thursday evening, April 16, during conference.
SCLRT/ Biblionix Conference Stipend: Toni Davenport, Universal City Public Library.
The award recognizes a worthy candidate. Sponsored by Biblionix, the award consists of a
$500 stipend to attend the TLA conference. Toni Davenport was chosen because she
expressed high expectations for gaining ideas for new programs for her library and
community and new insight from other librarians.
TALL Texans RT
TALL Texans RT Standing TALL Award: Kerry McGeath, DeSoto Public Library, City
of DeSoto. This award recognizes outstanding leadership demonstrated by a librarian who
is an active or retired member of the Texas Library Association. The award consists of a
small cowboy boot (the symbol of TALL Texans) and engraved name plate. It will be
presented at the TALL Texans Recognition and Reception, April 14 (4:30 – 6:00)
Kerry McGeath has demonstrated leadership within his library workplace, within the larger
Texas library community, and within the communities that he has served. He has excelled
in all areas of service and leadership.
Young Adult Round Table
YARI Award: Liz Friend, Wester Middle School, Frisco ISD. The purpose of the YARI
Award is to honor a librarian who has shown exceptional ability in motivating young adults
to read by developing and implementing a reading incentive program for young adults in
grades 6-12.
Friend created the Sonnenblitz! program at her middle school challenging the students to
read 10,000 pages, focusing on the works of Jordan Sonnenblick. Through her efforts and
those of the entire school (Broadcast team, Student Resources Officer, Band, etc.), her
school read over 200,000 pages – an all-time high for the middle school. She will receive a
$500 stipend and plaque at the YART business meeting on Wednesday, April 15 at 2 pm.
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YART ABC-CLIO Conference Stipends: Rae Cheney, Keller Public Library; and Valerie
Tagoe, Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas ISD. The YART ABC-CLIO annually awards
two stipends to assist with the cost of registration and expenses for TLA Annual Conference
for two librarians involved in library service to young adults allowing the librarians to take
back real-world practical information and professional development for implementation.
The award is sponsored by ABC-CLIO.
Cheney is determined to attend annual conference, despite a limited financial
situation. There is a great desire to stay current with library trends, increase knowledge of
adults services and get involved with TLA committees which conference can provide.
Tagoe expressed a clear desire to improve the library at her high school by using TLA
Annual Conference to develop new and innovative best practices that can be implemented
immediately.
Each winner will receive a $450 stipend and will be recognized at the YART business
meeting on Wednesday, April 15 at 2 pm.
Affiliated Awards
Dobie Awards
Blanco County South Library District—Blanco, Texas
Crowley Public Library—Crowley, Texas
Mc Mullen Memorial Library—Huntington, Texas
Lake Whitney Public Library—Whitney, Texas
Mae S. Bruce Library—Santa Fe, Texas
Carl and Mary Welhausen Library—Yoakum, Texas
James A. Love
Kountze Public Library
Texas Book Festival
East Branch Library, Arlington Public Library System
Farmers Branch Manske Library
Pilot Point Community Library
Hillsboro City Library
Larry J Ringer Library, Bryan & College Station Public Library System
Real County Public Library Leakey
Maribelle M. Davis Library, Plano Public Library System
Nesbitt Memorial Library
Main Library, El Paso Public Library
Jennie Trent Dew Library
Breckenridge Library
Ennis Public Library
River Oaks Public Library
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Ysleta Branch Library, El Paso Public Library
J. Erik Jonsson Central Library
White Rock Hills Branch Library
Lena Armstrong Public Library
Livingston Municipal Library
Marshall Public Library
Prosper Community Library
Bertha Voyer Memorial Library
Coleman Public Library
Abilene Public Library South Branch
Friench Simpson Memorial Library
Lancaster Veterans Memorial Library
Southeast Branch Library, Arlington Public Library System
D Brown Memorial Library
Juanita Hargraves Memorial Branch Library, Winnie Chambers County Library System
Hondo Public Library
Blanco County South Library District - Blanco Library Inc.
El Paso Public Library - Armijo Branch
R.B. Tullis Branch, Montgomery County Memorial Library System
Hutchinson County Library
Judy B. McDonald Public Library (formerly Nacogdoches Public Library)
Tocker Stipends
Melissa Day, Kaufman County Library
Debra Bashaw, McMullen Memorial Library
Carla Meador, Motley County Library
Carol Vorel, Olney Community Library
Veronica Clark, River Oaks Public Library
Jana Gaston, Saint Jo Public Library
Tina Nance, Silverton Public Library
Taylor Acevedo, Wolfforth, City of Library
Tocker Library Grants
Archer Public Library
B.J. Hill Library
Bertha Voyer Memorial Library
Bicentennial City-County Library
Bonham Public Library
Bowie Public Library
Breckenridge Library
Coleman Public Library
Cuero Public Library
East Parker County Library
Floyd County Library
G. Miller Hitchcock Public Library
Hansford County Library
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Jeff Davis County Library
Lake Whitney Public Library
Llano County Library
McMullen Memorial Library
Motley County Library
Nellie Pederson Civic Library
Rains County Public Library
Real County Public Library
Silverton Public Library
Swisher County Library
Taft Public Library
Tom Burnett Memorial Library
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