The goal of the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries is to bring together those working on digital projects in order to build a practical, usable, and sustainable model for digital libraries.
Our planning committee defines the conference each year by developing a theme, identifying a keynote speaker, and crafting a call for proposals to invite colleagues from our community to come together for the conference.
Take a moment to meet some of this year’s committee members, and be sure to thank them when you see them at #TCDL2025.
DEVON | ISABELLE | JON | HEIDI | KATE | KE’ARA | COURTNEY | MEGAN | ELIZABETH | ELLIOT | MARIA | PHEBE | LAUREN
MEET DEVON
Where do you work?
The University of Texas at Austin
What do you do there?
I’m a metadata and digital collections professional, currently working as the Metadata Analyst at the University of Texas at Austin. In this role, I create standards, policies, tools, and data models for the Libraries’ holdings, from rare books to architectural archives to historic maps.
Where did you go to school?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MA Art History, MSIS Information Science), University of Louisville (BFA Studio Art)
Where is your hometown?
It’s complicated! Let’s just say the state of Kentucky.
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I’m a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and of the United States.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I did my first presentation at TCDL in 2021, when it was virtual! I was working my first position with UT Austin Libraries and was encouraged to share my project work with others. Even with virtual barriers, I enjoyed the conference and camaraderie.
What do you wish other people knew about Texas Digital Library and/or Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I want to encourage any kind of digital library or archival collection to get involved; we certainly have a great number of academic institutions involved, but there are great insights to be had from our museum, public, and special libraries as well.
Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on TCDL?
I’ve enjoyed presenting and attending TCDL as it provides the opportunity to meet people from across the state, often people facing the same challenges and having the same interests as yourself.
What are your professional goals for the next five years?
I aim to continue my research into harmful language and content, refining existing strategies for mitigation. Harmful terms and practices still in use in library systems have deep histories relating to colonialism, and I find it key to deepen that understanding, strengthening those research skills, as well as having the technical know-how to update them. There’s a number of thesauri/terminology projects I work on too and I hope that they grow in the next five years.
What’s your personal philosophy on digital libraries / digital scholarship?
When an item is digitized or made accessible in a new format (consider born digital materials), you’re creating a wholly new item. And I deeply enjoy the conceptualizing of how those are organized, how they re-present already existing information, and how they can sometimes broaden access. For the latter I especially am passionate about providing access back to source communities, and hope to make metadata and digital libraries a more collaborative experience. After all, these library materials are not just ours, they are shared.
MEET ISABELLE
Where do you work?
Texas State University (TXST)
What do you do there?
Open Educational Resource (OER) Librarian
Where did you go to school?
TAMU College Station Undergrad (BBA) & UT Austin Grad (MSIS)
Where is your hometown?
I’ve lived lots of places – Sanford, North Carolina; Rosenberg Texas; Houston, Austin, San Marcos and more!
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I am highly interested in the classics and can talk at length about mythology, storytelling, and folklore! Bonus interest – I have experience in museum and materials handling spaces.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
Oh there are so many ways! Though most notably I am currently the Vice Chair of the OER @ TDL group (Kate is the chair!)
What has surprised you most about working with TDL?
The templates! The spreadsheets! It makes me so happy!
What do you think will change about digital libraries / digital scholarship in five years?
I’d love to see a more organized effort to develop open templates, programs, and curated content around the needs of Texans everywhere.
What are your professional goals for the next five years?
Wow what a light, and not at all stressful, question. I want to make open easier – through the creation of templates, curated and intentional open resource mapping to curriculum, and partnering with existing agencies and universities to create sustainable systems, workflows, and platforms for those who need it.
What’s your personal philosophy on digital libraries / digital scholarship?
Doing the most good for the most people is one of the most exciting opportunity in the digital space.
MEET JON
Where do you work?
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
What do you do there?
I am the Collection Management Librarian, which means I am responsible for acquiring and licensing the university’s various electronic resources and ensuring that we provide accurate and up-to-date pointers to those resources for our clients to use. I also manage the library’s online catalog (Koha), digital repository (DSpace), and ETD submissions system (Vireo).
Where did you go to school?
University of North Texas (master’s degree in library science), University of Texas at Austin (bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Journalism)
Where is your hometown?
Fairfield, Texas (a small town – population 3,500 – between Dallas and Houston on Interstate 45); if you travel between the 2 cities often and you’ve stopped at Sam’s Restaurant for BBQ or their delicious homemade pies, then you’ve been to Fairfield!
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
Growing up as the son of a small-town doctor, I did everything I could to stay away from medicine. So, the fact that I’ve been a medical librarian for 25+ years is still somewhat startling. In a similar vein, I had always said that I never wanted to be a cataloger, but I’ve been handling the library’s metadata needs for almost 10 years. So the moral of the story is, “Never say never!”
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I had heard a lot about TCDL from one of my former supervisors, Cameron Kainerstorfer, but I never had the chance to attend since it frequently conflicted with the Medical Library Association’s annual meeting. However, I was offered the chance to serve on the 2019 Planning Committee, and I found it incredibly rewarding to help plan the conference as well as attend it.
What was your first impression of Texas Digital Library?
Having collaborated with the Texas Digital Library for many years, it’s really hard to remember what my first impressions were. But I am frequently impressed by TDL’s dedication to serve its member libraries and help further their mission to preserve and provide access to digital collections.
What do you wish other people knew about Texas Digital Library and/or Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
TCDL is an intimate conference, and many of the presentations showcase activities and projects from all over Texas. As an intimate conference, you frequently have an opportunity to listen to presentations that don’t relate to your established line of work or area of expertise. But I have noticed that I invariably hear something in those presentations that might actually relate to some project I’m currently working on or problem that I’ve been trying desperately to resolve. So, even sessions that don’t directly relate to my job frequently have unexpected benefits.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about sponsoring or donating to TCDL?
The TCDL Planning Committee – and the Texas Digital Library – work extremely hard at finding engaging speakers and organizing meeting content that will be of wide interest to all meeting attendees, and the meeting’s various social events offer many opportunities for networking and sharing with meeting attendees. Any sponsorships or donations that can support any aspect of the meeting would be greatly appreciated and would go a long way to help provide an engaging, informative, and enjoyable learning opportunity for everyone.
MEET HEIDI
CHAIR
Where do you work?
Texas Tech University
What do you do there?
I curate the ThinkTech institutional repository Faculty Research Collection.
Where did you go to school?
I received both of my degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.
Where is your hometown?
So many: El Paso, TX/Naperville, IL/Quincy, IL/San Antonio, TX (not an army brat, just moved a lot growing up)
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I’m a grown up theater kid! I love taking part in community musical theater. I played Mrs. Potiphar in Moonlight Musicals’ production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this past summer. A local reviewer described my performance as, and I quote, “solid.”
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I attended my first TCDL in 2013, not long after I started working at Texas Tech.
What do you find most challenging about coordinating the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I have rarely been more mentally exhausted than the week I sat on a zoom call with the steering group putting the final schedule together. We talked a lot about which presentations naturally fit together in a session, what would make the day flow smoothly, and how to make sure we weren’t scheduling too many overlapping interests against each other. Equally, I have rarely been more proud than I was to watch all that scheduling come to life during TCDL 2024.
Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on TCDL?
It’s less the exact people I’ve met at TCDL and more so the community I’ve formed. We’re a pretty tight-knit (albeit *very* welcoming) group, so every year feels like a family reunion. I have loved watching all of us grow in our careers and in ourselves.
What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about the Texas Conference on Digital Library?
That it’s one of the best digital library conferences in the profession. I’ve never walked away from a TCDL disappointed by its planning or its programming.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about sponsoring or donating to TCDL?
TCDL brings together some of the most vibrant digital library professionals from across Texas (and the nation) who are dedicated to thoughtfully advancing our respective fields. TCDL attendees are passionate, forward-thinking, and, frankly, fun. Our theme this year, “How Far We’ve Come: Celebrating the Community” reflects the progress TDL has made in its first 20 years of existence, and with your support, we can continue to grow and amplify our community’s collective impact.
MEET KATE
Where do you work?
University of Houston
What do you do there?
Open Educational Resources (OER) Librarian
Where did you go to school?
University of Houston (BA) and University of North Texas (MS-LS)
Where is your hometown?
Pasadena, TX
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I wanted to be a yoga teacher when I grew up! I got certified to teach at the age of 16.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I first attended TCDL in 2019 when I was a Research & Instruction Librarian at University of Houston-Clear Lake. I was very impressed with the quality and the energy of the conference, and since then have really come to appreciate and enjoy the welcoming and vibrant community of the entire consortium. This is my first year on the TCDL Planning Committee, and am so excited to be a part of the planning efforts to shape the next conference! I’m also thrilled to be chairing the Awards Subcommittee this year and to have the honor of hearing about and recognizing all the amazing things our Texas community has been doing to advance digital scholarship and archives.
What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about the Texas Conference on Digital Library?
There truly is a place for everyone at TCDL and within the TDL consortium as a whole. I have met so many wonderful and amazing people through TDL, many of whom have been such a joy to work with and learn from! TCDL is a wonderful venue to learn and collaborate with others who have shared interest, and it is such a welcoming environment.
What are your professional goals for the next five years?
As an OER Librarian, I am driven by a passion for lifelong learning and advancing equity and accessibility for learning materials! My professional goals are centered on advancing the impact of open education at my institution and beyond, by increasing implementation of OER and open educational practices to meet affordability and student success goals. As the current chair of the OER Users Group (along with Vice Chair Isabelle Antes from Texas State University), I am excited to help provide learning and collaborative opportunities throughout the TDL community, and am eager to continue this work in the future on a broader, national scale!
MEET KE’ARA
Where do you work?
Texas Digital Library
What do you do there?
As the Outreach & Member Engagement Coordinator, I manage TDL communications and member groups as well as the marketing, programming, and logistics for TCDL.
Where did you go to school?
The University of Texas at Austin (BS in Radio-Television-Film and BA in English) / Boston University (MS in Television – Producing & Management)
Where is your hometown?
Houston, TX
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I’m a huge fan of CBS reality programming, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Challenge: USA, and The Amazing Race. I may or may not audition to be a contestant on one of these shows in the future. You’ll have to tune in to find out.
What has surprised you most about working with Texas Digital Library?
Even though I’ve only been a TDL staffer for a year, I am still surprised at the number of higher education institutions that are members. Over the past year, I’ve met some incredible folks in the extended TDL community. Everyone has been welcoming and knowledgeable, and I’ve learned a lot about digital librarianship.
What do you find most challenging about coordinating the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
There’s not always enough time to do all the things. The committee has many great ideas, and we do our best to bring these ideas to life, but we sometimes run up against time.
Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on TCDL?
The TCDL Planning Committee comprises a group of dedicated and energetic individuals!
MEET COURTNEY
Where do you work?
Texas Digital Library
What do you do there?
Deputy Director, Service Manager for Vireo ETD hosting, Digital Preservation Services, Texas Data Repository, and DPLA harvesting
Where did you go to school?
University of British Columbia MAS/MLIS
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I grew up in an Army family and spent 6th grade to high school graduation in a school on Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I first came to TCDL as a speaker when I was working at Artefactual Systems in Canada. While I came to teach and share about Archivematica, a digital preservation workflow management system I helped to develop, I also wanted a good excuse to visit my home state.
What was your first impression of Texas Digital Library?
I was so impressed with how much they did with such a small staff, and I started a multi-year campaign to get them to bring me on board.
The interest in TCDL seems to be growing. Why do you think that is?
Collaboration and community amplify and support the work of cultural heritage and information professionals, and TCDL creates a hub for shared activities and advocacy. Annually, TCDL gives us the opportunity to share our successes and find help where we need it from our colleagues.
What’s your personal philosophy on digital libraries / digital scholarship?
Digital libraries and digital scholarship rely on the labor of information and cultural heritage workers, and therefore the wellness and expertise of those workers should be centered, supported, consulted, and celebrated.
MEET MEGAN
Where do you work?
Texas Tech University
What do you do there?
I am an assistant librarian and the Digital Curation Librarian at Texas Tech University.
Where did you go to school?
I did my undergrad at Texas Tech where I graduated with a B.B.A. in 2020 (Wreck ‘Em!) and I got my M.L.S. from the University of North Texas.
Where is your hometown?
I’ve lived in many places over the years, but I graduated high school in Galveston, Texas.
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I used to be a competitive figure skater, and I still love watching the sport.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
My first experience of TCDL was in 2021 as a library student when conferences were still being held virtually due to the pandemic. I presented a poster about my practicum work as a graduate student assistant reviewing Open Access publication data for the institutions’ authors to identify challenges and best practices for harvesting scholarly output into the institutional repository. I was really nervous to present at my first library conference, but I remember attending the coffee and networking time the morning of and being pleasantly surprised that though I was a new face, everyone was so kind and welcoming. It gave me a lot of confidence for my presentation! Since then, I graduated from library school and began working at Texas Tech and have attended (and sometimes presented) at TCDL multiple times. This year is my first year serving on the Planning Committee and I’m looking forward to experiencing the conference in a new way!
The interest in TCDL seems to be growing. Why do you think that is?
TCDL has cultivated a wonderful community of people who are passionate about what they do, and it shows. The colleagues I have met through TCDL have inspired my own work as an information professional by providing advice, guidance, and stories on what has worked and ways we can improve. Everyone can contribute and learn from one another, which ultimately improves access to scholarly, cultural heritage, and educational materials throughout the state. The support from TDL is also top-notch!
MEET ELIZABETH
Where do you work?
Texas Woman’s University Libraries
What do you do there?
Digital Scholarship Librarian
Where did you go to school?
I received my Bachelor of General Studies, Master of Library Science and PhD in Rhetoric from TWU!
Where is your hometown?
Denton, Texas
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I am terrified of public speaking.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I worked the 2018 CTLC conference at the TWU library as the library graduate assistant (during my MLS) and met some TDL reps who thought being on a TCDL committee would be a good opportunity for me!
What was your first impression of Texas Digital Library?
My first impression is that it was (and is!) a very welcoming organization.
What’s your personal philosophy on digital libraries / digital scholarship?
I believe in open and equitable dissemination of knowledge and that means an increase in digitally-available information that is low- or no-cost. It’s not something that will happen over night but I believe that it is a reachable goal, given the right support and infrastructure.
MEET ELLIOT
VICE-CHAIR
Where do you work?
University of Texas at San Antonio
What do you do there?
Metadata Strategist
Where did you go to school?
UT Austin, University of Miami, and Willamette University
Where is your hometown?
Raton, NM
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
My first time at TCDL was shortly after I moved back to Texas and didn’t know many other librarians in the area. It has been a wonderful way to meet people and get connected to the community around the state.
What do you find most challenging about coordinating the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
We want TCDL to be a great experience for people with lots of different backgrounds and professional focuses – everything from scholcomm to GIS to digitization to metadata and more, and everyone from students to seasoned professionals. That range is part of what makes it an exciting conference, but can be a challenge for planning a conference that will meet everyone’s needs.
Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on TCDL?
TCDL is such a great place to build and strengthen relationships. I’ve met so many people at the conference who I’ve later been able to reach out to with questions or ideas, and I always know that people will be receptive to that.
What’s your personal philosophy on digital libraries / digital scholarship?
Digital libraries to me are all about connections – connecting people with items that will excite them, that will lead to new ideas, that will make them see their world in a new way. Whenever we can help people make those connections, we’re doing it right.
MEET MARIA
Where do you work?
The University of North Texas Health Science Center
What do you do there?
Metadata library specialist
Where did you go to school?
Hendrix College where I got a degree in anthropology/sociology, emphasis anthropology, and a minor in religious studies.
Where is your hometown?
Dayton, Ohio
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I have played B-flat clarinet in band/wind ensembles since fifth grade.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I attended for the first time at TCDL 2024 and I’m excited to be part of the planning committee this year!
What was your first impression of Texas Digital Library?
My first impression was how incredibly lovely, organized and helpful everyone is at TDL.
What are your professional goals for the next five years?
After working in academic libraries for 10 years, I want to finally the make the leap to getting my masters degree.
MEET PHEBE
Where do you work?
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
What do you do there?
Institutional Repository Specialist
Where did you go to school?
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (BBA & MBA) and Louisianna State University (MLIS, Spring 2025)
Where is your hometown?
Corpus Christi, Texas
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I have six cats at home and I can can play multiple instruments.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
I first became involved with TCDL in 2022 as part of the TCDL 2023 planning committee through the scholarly communication librarian at my institution due to my work with our institutional repository.
What was your first impression of Texas Digital Library?
TDL is such a welcoming and collaborative group. They’re always ready to help each other and create such a positive space!
What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about the Texas Conference on Digital Library?
More people should be involved! There is a wealth of knowledge that everyone contributes and I think that it can benefit the individual and the organization that engages with and adds to it.
The interest in TCDL seems to be growing. Why do you think that is?
TCDL is such a wonderful organization and is full of people that want to share resources and grow together. I think it’s the people that make interest in TCDL grow year after year.
MEET LAUREN
Where do you work?
University of Houston Libraries
What do you do there?
Associate Dean for Special Libraries and Preservation
Where did you go to school?
I went to University of Wisconsin – Madison where I earned an MA in Library and Information Studies and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Book History and Print Culture. For undergrad I went to St. Mary’s College of Maryland where I earned a BA in English Literature with a minor in Studio Art.
Where is your hometown?
I grew up in Flemington, New Jersey, but Houston is the hometown of my heart.
What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
I am a basketball fan (Go Rockets! Go Coogs!) and love taking my family to games.
Tell me how you first got involved with the Texas Conference on Digital Libraries?
TCDL 2023 was my first TCDL conference and I loved it and couldn’t wait to get involved.
What was your first impression of Texas Digital Library?
Texas Digital Library is such an important resource for professionals and the learners and scholars that we serve and we are so fortunate in Texas to have such a dynamic collective supporting this work.
What’s your personal philosophy on digital libraries / digital scholarship?
My favorite thing about the work that I do in academic libraries administration is that my job is to advocate for the people and their labor implicated in supporting every aspect of digital libraries and digital scholarship work.
For any questions regarding TCDL please contact info@tdl.org.
The Texas Conference on Digital Libraries is hosted by:
