Christina E. Taylor, MSIS

In light of recent events, I'm moving my library and comics literacy content to LinkedIn. I invite you to connect with me there in order to remain abreast of this information:

Christina E. Taylor - Texas Library Association | LinkedIn Experienced professional with a demonstrated history of working in organizational leadership, librarianship, and education. Eager to apply over 20 years’ expertise in organizational administration, web presence management, technology integration, learning development & implementation, and reso...

The deadline for 2025 Branding Iron Award applications has been EXTENDED until January 31 at 5:30 PM!

Awards will be presented to academic, school, public, and special libraries in several categories as well as one overall Best of Show winner.

To qualify:
- All entries must be submitted by the deadline via the online form.
- Marketing activity must have occurred in the past two years to be eligible.
- Libraries may submit up to three entries and may only enter one per category.
- If submitting an entry in more than one category, you must submit a separate form for each.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025 | 5:30 PM

For more information, visit the award webpage: https://txla.org/awards-scholarships-stipends/tla-awards-scholarships/branding-iron-awards/about/

Texas Library Association

2025 Branding Iron Award applications close SOON!

Applications close for the 2025 Branding Iron Award on Wednesday, January 15th; apply now!

Awards will be presented to academic, school, public, and special libraries in several categories as well as one overall Best of Show winner.

To qualify:
- All entries must be submitted by the deadline via the online form.
- Marketing activity must have occurred in the past two years to be eligible.
- Libraries may submit up to three entries and may only enter one per category.
- If submitting an entry in more than one category, you must submit a separate form for each.

Application Deadline: Wednesdy, January 15, 2025 | 5:30 PM

For more information, visit the Texas Library Association award webpage.

Now that the new year has begun, it's time to start planning for the spring conference season.

In April, I'll role off as the Past Chair of the Texas Library Association's Young Adult Round Table and turn the last pages of the epilogue to a 25-year career in youth services. Albeit bittersweet, I'm extremely excited for the time that has been gifted me to more fully explore other aspects of my practice. So if you'll be attending Annual Conference in Dallas, let's connect!

Today, I'm happily celebrating one more year around the sun! Here's to many more.

The December 2025 Library Management Update features upcoming opportunities including FREE webinars, funding opportunities, surveys, and awards as well as spotlights a few ongoing tools to facilitate doing the work.

Read the update online or subscribe to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's LIBRARY DEVELOPMENTS blog to receive it in your inbox each month: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/librarydevelopments/2024/12/10/management-update-2024-12/

As libraries... paper is largely our mainstay but if you took your marketing to the final fronteer, then you'll be happy to know that the Branding Iron Award celebrates digital marketing too! We want to know about your exceptional digital format only campaign. So, let's see it! The 2025 Branding Iron Awards honor the creative marketing and public relations activities that you do! Awards will be presented to academic, school, public, and special libraries in several categories as well as one overall Best of Show winner.

To qualify:
- All entries must be submitted by the deadline via the online form.
- Marketing activity must have occurred in the past two years to be eligible.
- Libraries may submit up to three entries and may only enter one per category.
- If submitting an entry in more than one category, you must submit a separate form for each.

Application Deadline: Wednesdy, January 15, 2025 | 5:30 PM

For more information, visit the award webpage: https://txla.org/awards-scholarships-stipends/tla-awards-scholarships/branding-iron-awards/about/

Texas Library Association

Did you create an amazing annual report or strategic plan? Was the marketing of your fundraising campaign creative and original? Let's see it! The 2025 Branding Iron Awards honor the creative marketing and public relations activities that you do! Awards will be presented to academic, school, public, and special libraries in several categories as well as one overall Best of Show winner.

To qualify:
- All entries must be submitted by the deadline via the online form.
- Marketing activity must have occurred in the past two years to be eligible.
- Libraries may submit up to three entries and may only enter one per category.
- If submitting an entry in more than one category, you must submit a separate form for each.
Application Deadline: Wednesdy, January 15, 2025 | 5:30 PM
For more information, visit the award webpage: https://txla.org/.../tla.../branding-iron-awards/about/

Enjoy this recap of the 2024 Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) conference on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's LIBRARY DEVELOPMENTS blog for a firsthand account of how it equipped me with tools that addressed gaps in my personal experience and professional resources: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/librarydevelopments/2024/10/25/arsl-2024-recap/

Yet again, New York Comic Con has hosted another fantastic event. Thank you to the event organizers, volunteers, authors, publishers, vendors, and the good people of New York for helping to make this possible each year. You are appreciated!

And a special thank you to the series of very kind hearted women that instinctively passed me along and helped me navigate the details that were just too much for my panicked brain to deal with after I missed my flight home - everyone from:

- Jana Tropper who prompted me through booking another flight ASAP while ALSO debugging my botched rideshare on the way to the airport.

- To the kind soul in the security check line who gave me a much needed laugh about her low-key rivalry with her sister to see who made it to the gate first.

- To the Houstonian who spotted my drivers license when I dropped it and made sure that I got in the boarding queue on time.

- And finally, my gracious seatmate who excitedly talked to me about what she liked to read while finishing a knitting project for her granddaughter.

Although I'll likely never encounter most of them again, they were precisely what I needed and right on time. 😔

New York Comic Con

Day 4 of 2024 New York Comic Con: Sunday, funday. Today is a play day now that I'm finished presenting!

New York Comic Con

RECAP: Play takes many forms. And after such a successful con, the order of the day is rest and recuperation.