The annual Texas Conference on Digital Libraries (TCDL) is the result of dedicated collaboration and hard work from digital library professionals across Texas Digital Library (TDL) member institutions. We extend our deepest gratitude to every member of our 2027 Planning Committee for their invaluable contributions in shaping the conference.
A handful of our committee members have graciously offered to be featured in a special interview series. Read on to learn more about their roles, experiences, and what they are most excited about for TCDL 2027.
Alexa Hight
- she/her
- Texas State University
- Assistant Director, Research & Data Services
In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2027 Planning Committee?
TCDL is my favorite conference, I love getting to see all of the TDL folks every year so I’m so happy to have a hand in making the conference happen this year!
When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?
I read all of my books in print, if possible! I love to hike and be in nature when it’s not too hot to be outside.
What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?
Honestly, pretty much anything Taylor Swift. If I need something other than meditation music to get something done, I usually put on a TS album for pump up back ground noise.
What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?
Just the people. I love TDL user groups, interest groups, etc. I have learned so much from my TDL colleagues and I love getting to see them in person at TCDL!
Isabelle Antes
- she/her
- Texas State University
- Open Educational Resources (OER) Librarian
In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2027 Planning Committee?
I love bringing people and resources together and TCDL brings great people and their phenomenal work into one space where everyone can ask questions, learn, and grow!
What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?
This year I’ve been using a new internet browser – Arc! I love the flexibility of having multiple work spaces with folders for project tabs with pinned favorites across all the workspaces! Plus you can customize workspaces depending on what you need. And yes, I do have a space specifically set up for all the TCDL things happening this year!
What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?
There are so so so many hidden gems, and I have worked on a few projects that are fairly niche, so I’d like to highlight them here!
Battle Cast Collection Site: This site covers the history of the Battle Cast collection, and has a variety of resources that cover polychromy and it’s importance in ancient civilizations and it’s implications today. Bonus! The resource are in a variety of modality types – interactive maps, 3D models, videos, and more. I helped with some of the legwork for the content of this site as a graduate student! Take a look.
Texas Core to Open: This is a personal plug for what I’ve been working on, and working with others to expand. It aligns OER to state standard course information and descriptions to lower the cognitive load of OER adoption! You can find the resource here and the TAMU derivative here.
Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?
I am most excited to see how digital libraries and spaces can provide access to more primary resources for researchers and every day people!
When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?
I know its cliche, but I do love to read! I also enjoy sewing (quilts predominately and I am a novice at best), crocheting, and traditional media forms of art.
What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?
I don’t have a specific song but I generally put on The Eagle radio station (or equivalent)!
What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?
There are so many amazing experiences but I’d like to highlight one for TDL and one for TCDL.
TDL created a space where I could ask questions, share challenges, and find joy in the professional space through the OER User Group.
I was recommended TCDL by one of my friends and colleagues, and it was everything they said it was and more. I got to see so many people I’d only ever talked to online, and I loved every session I attended. It’s like being in a place where everyone wants you to use the information they’re sharing to make your work better – and I saw that most during lightning talks and panels!
Jenna Palensky
- she/her
- Baylor University
- Digital Archivist
In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2027 Planning Committee?
I attended TCDL for the first time last year and was so inspired by this community. Serving on this committee is my way of saying “thank you”, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to give back a positive experience for our community this upcoming year.
What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?
Siegfried and Brunnhilde command line tools are incredible open-source tools in my line of work. They run comprehensive reports on born digital files (including a list of all files, file extensions, tree structure, original dates/timestamps, checksums, viruses, etc.) without me having to open all of them.
What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?
Being a born digital archivist, I’m not just thinking about digital preservation, I’m always thinking about how these materials are accessed. “Examples of Born Digital Description in Finding Aids” is an excellent resource I’ve consulted many times. It provides cross-institutional examples of born digital descriptions in various institutional finding aids.
Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?
I think we have a real opportunity to turn our seemingly disparate library technologies into seamless and delightful research experiences for our patrons in their search for materials, if this is something we choose to pay attention to. Good experience design is hard work, but it’s future-forward and it’s how we will keep digital libraries alive and relevant.
When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?
I love to collect obscure VHS tapes and audio cassette mixtapes from thrift stores, and anything having to do with art and music. I’m a songwriter and love to compose choral music. I also love pottery (wheel-throwing), photography, watercolor, textiles, and taking the wealth of classes offered through Baylor’s Book Arts and Letterpress Lab like paper marbling and font design.
What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?
“Eye Know” by De La Soul
What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?
As an early-career digital archivist, I’ve found that in this community there are no stupid questions. It’s a shared understanding that we’re all in this together, not competing against one another. There’s no shame in sharing struggles, just support.
Ian Barba
- Texas Tech University
- Librarian
In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2027 Planning Committee?
I have attended TCDL for many years and have always enjoyed the conference. I was asked to serve and I was happy to do so.
What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?
I think it has probably been smart phones. My students have grown up in a world where answers (whether they are correct or not) to any questions they might have are available within moments.
What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?
I wish more students were aware of their subject librarians. We are always ready and happy to help whenever students are feeling lost or stuck.
Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?
AI misinformation and slop has only increased the need for skilled librarians and curated collections to help patrons make sense of the information landscape.
When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?
I practice and teach Martial Arts (Tang Soo Do, American Kenpo, and Hapkido).
What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?
Ante Up by M.O.P.
What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?
I am a subject librarian, but I have enjoyed attending TCDL for years to get a sense of the research and librarianship that is being done by the “other side” of academic libraries.
Shelley Barba
- she/her
- Texas Tech University
- Digital Scholarship Librarian
In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2027 Planning Committee?
Connecting with others is my primary motivation serve on this committee and attend the annual conference.
What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?
Vireo far and away has made the biggest impact on my work of curating ETDs! Without it, we would have such an extensive backlog of new theses and dissertations.
Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?
Open Data initiatives and nurturing a culture of accountable, replicable research.
When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?
Gardening! We’ve been terraforming our yard to better support the birds, bees, and butterflies and survive in our harsh climate.
What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?
“Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?
For the 17 years I have been attending TCDL, each time I learn something big or small that improved how I do my job the rest of the year. The value of speaking with and knowing others who are in digital libraries, facing similar challenges, issues, and victories is beyond measure. I have yet to find such a consistent return on investment at other conferences.
Maria Balduf
- she/they
- UNT Health Fort Worth
- Library Specialist
In one or two sentences, what motivates you most about serving on the TCDL 2027 Planning Committee?
I always enjoy attending TCDL every year and getting to help plan it is a way for me to give back to the library community and help make TCDL a great experience for everyone attending.
What is one technology or digital tool that you believe has made the biggest impact on your work, and why?
Using EndNote for metadata ingest from PubMed for UNT Health faculty’s open access articles.
What is a digital collection or resource—either from your institution or somewhere else—that you wish more people knew about?
The digital collection we’re building using AM Quartex to make the University Archives’ collections available.
Thinking about the future of digital libraries, what is one major change or development you are most excited about seeing in the next five years?
I’m excited to see all the ways digital libraries are becoming flexible with showcasing all sorts of digital objects.
When you need a break from the screen, what is your favorite non-digital hobby or pastime?
Playing my clarinet.
What is your go-to song when you need to focus or get motivated?
Dusk by MCC
What is one thing about the Texas Digital Library (TDL) community or TCDL conference that you find particularly inspiring or meaningful?
I am always struck by how supportive and engaged everyone is for all the presenters and the interesting discussions that often happen during the Q&A. I always learn something or make a new connection with another attendee during sessions.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I enjoyed a session that included different digital archival collections and seeing all the ways people approached gathering, preserving, and showcasing their collections. I often think about those presentations as I work on digital collections at my institution.
TCDL 2027 Planning Committee
Chair: Isabelle Antes, Texas State University
Vice Chair: Maria Balduf, UNT Health Fort Worth
Ian Barba, Texas Tech University
Shelley Barba, Texas Tech University
Angela Colmenares, Texas A&M University
James Creel, Texas A&M University
Meagan Hernandez, Texas Digital Library
Alexa Hight, Texas State University
Ke’ara Hunt, Texas Digital Library
Christina Kellum, University of North Texas
Kylie Kincaid, Texas Tech University
Amanda King, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Marcia McIntosh, University of North Texas
Devon Murphy, University of Texas at Austin
Jenna Palensky, Baylor University
Shannon Pensa, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Charity Stokes, Texas A&M University
Lindsey Todorovich, Texas A&M University
Ateanna Uriri, Texas A&M University
Millicent Weber, Baylor University
Xuan Zhou, Texas State University