Between the Lines: March Member Spotlight

 

Originally published March 18, 2024

Texas Library Association Website

Christina E. Taylor
Library Management Consultant
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

1. What inspired you to become a librarian?
My mother was a public educator for nearly 40 years, and midway through her tenure, she was struggling with burnout. While I was preparing to follow in her footsteps, I had the privilege of watching her reinvent herself. She earned her MLS from Texas Women’s University, shifted the trajectory of her career toward school librarianship, and was able to reclaim the joy in being an educator that she’d lost along the way. She found a way to continue doing the work she loved, minimize what was wearing away at her, and maximize what fed her passion. Seeing that, I made a promise to myself to monitor my own burnout. And if there ever came a time when I needed an exit strategy, then I KNEW that I’d had at least one successful example modeled for me. Fifteen years later, I decided to see if school librarianship would be a good fit for me as well.

2. What is an innovative practice at your library/organization (current or former) would you like to share with others?
During my tenure as a school librarian, I had the honor of co-founding a free comic convention for students. Central Texas Teen & Kids Comic Con debuted on December 2, 2017 and over 2,500 participants came for the festivities. This event aims at offering teens, kids, and educators the chance to interact with comic creators, participate in workshops, and showcase their creativity. As one of the event organizers, I brought together a broad cross-section of my passions: literacy, graphic literature, public education, youth outreach, community engagement, organizational infrastructure, and social media marketing. Although my term on the event steering committee has ended, I continue to scout talent, raise awareness, and—most importantly—bring my nephew to the con each year.

3. If you could have dinner with three authors (living or dead), who would they be and why?
Rather than a mere dinner, I would love to have a three-part progressive meal – enjoying high tea with Gail Carriger, dinner with Trung LeNguyen, and digestifs with LaDarrion Williams. Whereas Ms. Gail and I would titter about the latest gossip, Trungles and I would ponder the state of humanity. Finally, Williams and I would determine who to collaborate with as we work to bring about change.

4. What are you reading right now?
Redemptor (Raybearer Book 2). Since 2020, I’ve really embraced speculative fiction—specifically, steampunk and Afrofuturism. I’m finding it to be a wonderful support for helping me contextualize topical concerns while providing just enough abstraction to mitigate being overwhelmed by them.

5. What is your most memorable Texas Library Association Experience?
Since 2017, I’ve chosen to cosplay while attending Annual Conference. Last year during a panel I was moderating, my fellow panelists (who are dear friends and valued colleagues) spontaneously shared with the audience how empowered it made them feel to see me—a librarian of color—doing so for the first time. For the past 30 years, BIPOC nerds have existed in the cringe-worthy shadow of Urkel and felt like mutants hiding among us. But, because libraries can create safe spaces for this fandom, I cosplay each year to raise awareness. Hearing them share this with me for the first time, I was so taken aback that I required several deep breaths before I could even think about continuing.

6. Advice to new librarians?
Relax. Grant yourself permission to explore opportunities that arise. My only regret is not learning to do this until later in life.

7. Share your hobbies, hidden talents, or anything people might not know about you.
I ride an adult tricycle. In 2012, my spouse gifted me my original one so we could ride “bikes” together. At that time, I hadn’t ridden a two-wheeler in over twenty years and the thought of doing so again made me very uncomfortable. But the stability that three wheels offers immediately put me at ease. Over the years, many people have told me that although they’d given up hope of ever being able to ride, seeing me on my trike has caused them to consider a new path forward. When I first began riding it was merely recreational, but now I ride for them too.

8. Please finish this sentence. “I am a TLA member because…”
I am a TLA member because connecting with a community of practice is an invaluable opportunity to shore up the skills I lack and connect with other like-minded professionals.